JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Air Force leadership announced force management programs designed to reduce the force by thousands of Airmen over the next five years as a result of sequestration.
Fiscal year 2014 force management initiatives are in addition to the announcement made in July, stating the Air Force will implement several force management programs to meet budget reduction requirements.
Read the short descriptions below of each program and whom they affect. If you have any questions or concerns, please "add a comment" to the article.
- CMSgt Voluntary Retirement Phase. The voluntary retirement phase identifies targeted AFSCs and the number of CMSgts needed to retire. During this phase, CMSgts may apply for retirement in lieu of meeting the CMSgt Retention Board based on the eligibility criteria outlined in the CMSgt Retention Board Personnel Services Delivery Memorandum (PSDM). (Voluntary)
- CMSgt Retention Board. This board will review the records of Chief Master Sergeants in overage AFSCs and those with negative quality indicators and identify CMSgts recommended for retirement. (Involuntary)
- Quality Force Review Board (QFRB). The Quality Force Review Board will consider all Airmen (except those in the retirement sanctuary - greater than or equal to 18 years of service and less than 20 years of service as of 30 Sep 14) with specified negative Reporting Identifiers (RIs), Reenlistment Eligibility (RE) codes, Assignment Availability Codes (AACs), or Grade Status Reasons (GSRs). Voluntary separation pay will not be offered to Airmen meeting the Quality Force Review Board, however separation pay will be paid to Airmen with 6 or more and less than 15 years of service who are not retained. TERA will be offered to Airmen with at least 15 years of service who are not retained. Retirement eligible Airmen (20 or more years) who are not retained will have the opportunity to apply for normal retirement. (Involuntary)
- Temporary Early Retirement Authority. TERA authorizes officer and enlisted Airmen, with more than 15, but less than 20 years of total active federal military service to apply for early retirement with a reduced amount of retirement pay. (Voluntary)
- Date of Separation (DOS) Rollback. The Service Secretary may discharge enlisted members within 12 months of expiration of their term of service based on prescribed criteria. The purpose of the DOS Rollback program is to accelerate the DOS by up to a year, for Airmen who have declined to obtain service retainability for assignments, training, retraining, or Professional Military Education. (Involuntary)
- Enlisted Voluntary Separation Pay. Enlisted VSP applies to Airmen on the active duty list with 6 or more years but less than 20 years of Total Active Federal Military Service. Airmen may apply for VSP in lieu of meeting an enlisted retention board (this does not include the Quality Force Review Board or SNCO Retention Boards). Airmen may apply for VSP if they are in an overage AFSC and grade, which includes Airmen who are eligible to meet an enlisted retention board. (Voluntary)
- Senior Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO) Retention Boards. The Service Secretary may discharge enlisted members before their term of service expires based on prescribed criteria. The SNCO retention boards will determine which retirement-eligible Airmen (at least 20 years as of 30 Nov 14) in an overage AFSC/grade are retained and which are selected to retire early. (Involuntary)
- Enlisted Retention Boards. The Service Secretary may discharge enlisted members before their term of service expires based on prescribed criteria. The enlisted retention boards will determine which Airmen (SrA through TSgt) are selected for retention and which Airmen will separate or retire early. These boards will consider Airmen (except those in sanctuary - greater than or equal to 18 years of service and less than 20 years of service as of 31 Jan 15) in an overage AFSC/grade to determine who will be retained. Voluntary separation pay will be offered to those Airmen meeting a retention board with 6 or more years of service. Involuntary separation pay will be given to Airmen with 6 or more and less than 15 years of service who are not retained. TERA will be offered to Airmen with at least 15 years of service before the board and to similarly eligible Airmen who are not retained. (Involuntary)
- Selective Early Retirement Board (SERB). This SERB applies to regular officers on the active duty list in grades of Lieutenant Colonel and Colonel. Eligibility is defined as Colonels with at least 4 years time in grade and Lieutenant Colonels who have been non-selected for promotion to the next higher grade at least twice and who, in either case, are not on a list of officers recommended for promotion. Officers can only be
considered by the SERB once in any 5-year period. Officers will be considered by the SERB within competitive categories (similar to a promotion board); total number of officers recommended for retirement cannot exceed 30 percent of the eligible population by grade. (Involuntary)
- Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Board (ESERB). The ESERB is a new authority granted in the FY13 NDAA that Air Force has not previously used. It applies to regular officers on the active duty list in grades of Captain (with prior service) through Colonel. Eligibility is defined as Colonels with 2 but less than 4 years time in grade; Lieutenant Colonels who have been once non-selected for promotion to the next higher grade; and retirement-eligible officers below the rank of Colonel on active duty. Officers can be
considered by the ESERB each year, provided they continue to meet eligibility criteria. The authority allows consideration by grade, year groups, specialties, or competitive categories; total number of officers recommended for retirement cannot exceed 30 percent of the eligible population within each grade. (Involuntary)
- Officer Voluntary Separation Pay. Officer VSP applies to Airmen on the active duty list with 6 or more years Total Active Federal Military Service and less than 20 years of Total Active Federal Military Service. RIF and Force Shaping Board eligible officers (with 6 or more years Total Active Federal Military Service) may apply for VSP in lieu of meeting the board. (Voluntary)
- Reduction In Force (RIF). RIFs impact regular officers with 6 or more years Total Active
Commissioned Service and less than 18 years of Total Active Federal Military Service below the grade of Lieutenant Colonel who have served at least 1 year of active duty in the current grade; are not on a promotion list; and are not eligible for retirement or will not become eligible for retirement within 2 years. (Involuntary)
- Force Shaping Board (FSB). FSB will consider active duty officers with more than 3 but less than 6 years of commissioned service as of 31 Dec 14. Officers selected for separation under FSB are not entitled to any type of separation pay unless they have 6 or more years Total Active Federal Military Service. (Involuntary)
ADDITIONAL VOLUNTARY PROGRAMS
- Limited Active Duty Service Commitment waiver program allows eligible personnel to request a waiver for certain previously incurred service commitments in order to separate or retire.
- Expanded PALACE CHASE. AF Officer/Enlisted Expanded PALACE CHASE program facilitates transfer of personnel with active duty service commitments from active military service to an Air Reserve Component (ARC). Transfer to the ARC results in a 1-for-1 (not less than 1 year or greater than 6 years) commitment.
- 8 vs 10 Total Active Federal Commissioned Service Date Waivers. This waiver authorizes eligible officers to retire as an officer with reduced active commissioned service; 8 commissioned years of service instead of 10 years.
- Time in Grade Waivers. Officers in overage grade/specialties may request to retire or separate in their current grade with no less than 2 years time in grade versus normal requirement of 3 years.
For more information, visit the myPers website at
https://mypers.af.mil.