Force shaping board to convene in July

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --  The Air Force will convene a fiscal 2014 Force Shaping Board here July 14 to consider eligible officers within competitive categories for continued retention, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Jan. 27.

Categories include line of the Air Force, LAF-judge advocate, biomedical sciences corps, dental corps, medical service corps and nurse corps.

The purpose of the board is to retain officers whose careers illustrate suitability for continued service and future leadership roles, said Lt. Col. Rick Garcia, the AFPC retirements and separations branch chief.

"The board will make its determination using information such as selection briefs, performance reports, training reports and decorations," Garcia said. "The board will also consider officers' retention recommendation forms and any letters submitted by eligible officers to provide additional relevant information that is not included in other documents."

The board will evaluate active-duty LAF captains and first lieutenants in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 accession year groups (as computed by total active federal commissioned service date). The board will also consider LAF-J officers with a Jan. 1, 2009 to Dec. 31, 2011 date of rank to captain. The board will consider lieutenant colonels and below in the medical competitive categories in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 year groups.

Officers who are not selected for retention must separate no later than Dec. 31.

Officers who have an approved date of separation before Dec. 31, 2014 and those who entered active duty later than July 15, 2012 will not meet the board, Garcia said. Officers with an approved DOS after Dec. 31, 2014 remain eligible for board consideration, and if they are not selected for retention, their DOS will be curtailed to Dec. 31.

In addition, officers with six or more years of total federal commissioned service or who have 15 or more years of total active service as of the mandatory separation date will not meet the board.

A retention recommendation form must be accomplished for all eligible officers by their respective senior rater. Recommendation forms must be submitted to AFPC by June 12.

Officers eligible to meet the force shaping board are authorized to submit a letter to the board to address matters they believe merit consideration, Garcia said. Such letters must reach AFPC by July 10.

Officers who are not selected for retention will not have to repay unearned portions of education assistance funds, special pay, bonuses or other monetary incentives. For specifics on Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, officers should review PSDM 13-131 at the myPers link listed below or contact the career development section at their local military personnel section.

Officers with more than six years of active service may apply for voluntary separation pay. Those officers not selected for retention are also entitled to full separation pay if they have six or more but less than 20 years of active service as of the separation date. To be eligible for separation pay, officers must also sign the Individual Ready Reserve statement.

Officers selected for separation are authorized transition assistance program benefits, including permissive temporary duty, 180 days extended medical care for themselves and their families, and an identification card that grants commissary and exchange privileges for two years.

All separating and retiring Airmen must attend a transition assistance program offered at their local Airman and Family Readiness Center. The program includes congressionally mandated pre-separation counseling; a required five-day workshop; veterans benefit briefings, which include details on disability; one-on-one assistance to develop an individual transition plan and a capstone which requires commander concurrence that the member has met all career readiness standards.

Other related services include employment resources; financial planning and management; spouse employment assistance; relocation assistance and general information and referral.

"We highly encourage all Airmen affected by force management programs to sign up early for a TAP class," Garcia said. "Force management coupled with routine separations and retirements activity will have a significant impact on available class seats. So waiting until you learn the results of the board may prevent you from getting into a conveniently-scheduled class."

For more information about the force shaping board, including RRF instructions and guidance on providing letters to the board, go the myPers and enter PSDM 13-131 in the search window.