900 face involuntary retraining Published June 25, 2003 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- More than 900 airmen may be involuntarily moved to shortage career skills starting July 7, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials here.Although 450 airmen volunteered to change career fields during the initial phase of this year’s noncommissioned officer retraining program, it was not enough.Around the second week of July, officials will begin notifying airmen selected as most vulnerable to retrain. They will ask the airmen to submit their choices of shortage career fields they would most like to retrain into as part of the program's Phase II. The second phase runs through Aug. 15."This phase of the retraining program is necessary to help meet the needs of the Air Force by putting airmen where they are needed most," said Chief Master Sgt. Alvin Diaz, chief of the skills management branch here.Under Phase II, not everyone is guaranteed his or her first choice. Major commands continue to accept volunteer applications. Personnel officials encourage all eligible NCOs to also consider special-duty assignments such as recruiting, military training instructors, first sergeant duty or professional military education instructor."There's still time for those who have been identified for possible retraining to volunteer," said Diaz. "It's up to each airman, but if it were me, I'd think having control over my career would be a priority and help reduce the stress of not knowing whether or not I will get that notification asking me to make a selection -- I'd volunteer."The retraining program is designed to help balance the enlisted force by moving NCOs in specialties with surpluses to those with shortages. In April, the Air Force said it needed about 1,400 airmen to change careers. Factors such as retention rates and new promotions have an effect on how many airmen will finally be retrained and where they will be needed, said Diaz. "But unless a large number suddenly step up and volunteer, we'll be looking for another 900 or so," he said."We will work with those who have been selected for retraining, as we would any retraining case, in order to make the transition as smooth as possible for the airman and his or her family while still meeting the needs of the Air Force," said Tech. Sgt. Derek Hughes, noncommissioned officer in charge of Air Force retraining here. Vulnerability listings by grade and Air Force specialty code will be updated online weekly on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site at https://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/enlskills/Retraining/retraining.htm. Military personnel flights have more details on the program. (Courtesy of AFPC News Service)