In an effort to right size and shape its future force, Air Force officials approved an annual board to evaluate officers for continued service at their three-year point. The board will be part of the service's force management program.

The first Force Shaping Board is scheduled to convene at the Air Force Personnel Center here April 3, 2006. 

The board will evaluate active duty line officers in the 2002 and 2003 accession year groups -- except officers with less than two years current active service or 15 or more years of active service as of Sept. 29, 2006.

The board's objective is to shape the future force by retaining officers the Air Force needs to develop as future leaders. The board will make its determination based on the information in the officers' central selection record and Retention Recommendation Form. 

The central selection record includes: 

-- Officer selection brief, 

-- Officer performance reports,

-- Decorations,

-- Letters of evaluation. Permanent change of station students (such as those at intelligence school or attending the Air Force Institute of Technology) will not have a completed an Retention Recommendation Form. Instead, their host wing commander will complete a letter of evaluation outlining the officer's training program and performance.

-- Letter to the board. Board-eligible officers are authorized to submit a letter to the board to provide additional information relevant to the board decision process that is not included in any other documents in the central selection record.

-- Retention Recommendation Form: The first O-6 or GS-15 in the officer's chain of command will write a nine-line narrative and make a recommendation. The senior rater will review the form and either concur or non-concur with the initial reviewer's recommendation. The senior rater will also provide a mandatory ranking on all officers in their unit by accession year group and Air Force Specialty Code.

A general officer is scheduled to visit nearly every base to further explain the board process and how it fits into the service's overall force management program. Likewise, they will ensure Airmen are aware of the current voluntary separation initiatives.

Air Force leaders had hoped to reduce the line officer corps through a robust voluntary Force Shaping Program. The program continues to offer interested officers the following separation options, which may also include a waiver for recouping education costs:

Voluntary Separation Programs

-- Limited Active Duty Service Commitment waivers: This program allows individuals to separate before the expiration of certain active duty service commitments.

-- Air Force Reserve Palace Chase 

-- Air National Guard Palace Chase

-- Army Blue to Green

Opportunities exist for Airmen to continue to serve their country through federal civilian employment.

On March 1, these voluntary initiatives close to FSB eligible officers as the personnel center will no longer accept separation applications from these officers.

For more information about the board and volunteer separation opportunities, visit the AFPC Force Shaping Website, at www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/retsep/shape.htm, or call the Air Force Personnel Contact Center at (800) 616-3775.