Force shaping -- the right program at the right time

  • Published
  • By Col. Thomas Hancock
  • 11th Wing director of personnel
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFPN) --  Since the Air Force became its own service in 1947, its mission has continually changed to meet new threats. As the mission of the Air Force has changed, so has the Air Force itself -- increasing and decreasing in size, changing its skill structure and the number of airmen in each specialty and reshaping itself in general to meet new challenges. This was the case leading up to the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, the lengthy Cold War and the numerous regional conflicts that have followed.

Changing the force has become necessary once again. Due to the threat of terrorism and the current situation in Iraq, the Air Force has exceeded its mandated active duty end strength of 359,000 and must now reduce its size by more than 16,000 people. As Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. John P. Jumper explained in his force-shaping sight picture, this is a temporary situation. "We now need a plan to return to authorized levels," he wrote.

At first glance, it may confuse some people as to why the Air Force needs to reduce its size in the midst of a high-operations tempo. The reason is not only to return to authorized end-strength levels, but also shift airmen from overage specialties to those that are stressed and undermanned.

For those considering leaving active duty, the program provides several opportunities to separate or retire, primarily through the Limited Active Duty Service Commitment waiver and Palace Chase programs. The rules for leaving active duty via Palace Chase to join the Guard or Reserve will be the least restrictive.

Some officers and enlisted members will also have an opportunity to retrain. For officers, details will be forthcoming after completion of a cost-analysis study. For enlisted members, Phase 1 of the fiscal year 2004 noncommissioned officer retraining program was announced Dec. 30 and will end Feb. 23.

Now is the right time for force shaping.

It is the right program, so the Air Force provides taxpayers the best possible return on their investment in the military. Force shaping is also the right program because it is designed to treat the most valuable Air Force asset -- you, our fellow airmen and me -- as fairly as possible. The program rightfully aims to retain quality airmen who want to continue in the Air Force while providing a choice for those who may be considering separating or retiring.

The goal is to get under authorized end strength in such a way that does not adversely impact the mission or morale of the world's greatest air and space force.