2005 NCO retraining program under way

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. David A. Jablonski
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Air Force officials want more than 1,000 noncommissioned officers to pick a new job during the voluntary phase of the fiscal 2005 NCO retraining program that began Aug. 3.

Eligible NCOs have until Sept. 30 to apply. If the Air Force does not meet its goal of placing 1,098 Airmen from overage career fields into shortage career fields, a nonvoluntary second phase may be implemented.

Rosters showing those identified in Phase 1 as susceptible to involuntary retraining, sorted by Air Force specialty code and in order of vulnerability, are posted on a secure Web page accessible at: www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/enlskills/retraining/retraining.htm.

The complete list of retraining-in opportunities is available on the retraining advisory at local military personnel flights.

If necessary, the involuntary Phase 2 will begin for any Air Force specialty that did not meet voluntary retraining-out program objectives. In that case, Air Force Personnel Center officials will issue further instructions and implementation guidance.

Selection is determined across all eligible year groups, mirroring assignment eligibility ranked by the date an Airman arrived on station. Retraining is limited primarily to staff and technical sergeants with 16 years or less, or master sergeants with 18 years or less. Some second-term senior airmen may volunteer for staff sergeant quotas. There are also limited retraining opportunities for senior master sergeants.

According to personnel officials, this multipurpose program is designed to rebalance the enlisted force from career fields with overages to those skills experiencing shortages; provide NCO's a voice in their career development; and return disqualified airman to a productive status.

“Historically, we have retrained NCOs from career fields with overages to career fields with shortages,” said Reese Lang, chief of trained personnel requirements at the Pentagon.

“As in the past, the fiscal 2005 program's goal is to balance the enlisted force,” Mr. Lang said.

Personnel center officials have already identified those who are susceptible for involuntary retraining and will notify these NCOs through official channels.

“We highly encourage them to apply for retraining into shortage skills that are identified in MILPDS, or to apply for any special-duty identifiers,” Mr. Lang said.

“Besides those identified as vulnerable, anyone in an AFSC or grade identified as an overage, may apply for available quotas providing they meet eligibility requirements,” he said.

Specialty codes having the highest number of eligible retrainees includes supply management (2S0X1), security forces (3P071), communications and computer systems (3C2X1), and aerospace medical services (4N0X1).

Airmen who wish to view their current standing should follow the links from the retraining Web page to the AFPC secure page and log in using their Virtual MPF password. A retraining link will take them to the listing of specialty codes and grades. By clicking on current grade, or projected grade, NCOs will be able to see their current ranking amongst those who are vulnerable. A list of frequently asked questions will be posted to the retraining Web page.

If Phase 2 is implemented, NCOs in those spcialties not meeting the retraining-out program target will continue to be identified until the end of the phase. Those selected under Phase 2 will receive an approval notice for a specialty selected by AFPC officials.

Selection criteria has changed this year from selecting NCOs based solely upon their seniority, using their total active federal military service date, to selecting across all eligible year groups mirroring assignment eligibility. For example, once all ineligibles have been removed from consideration, everyone left will be sorted by the date they arrived at their current duty station and those with the most time on station will appear at the top of the list for involuntary retraining.