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Air Force officials announce additional force management measures

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  In on-going efforts to continue to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials announced additional force management programs.

The Air Force ended fiscal year 2011 about 1,200 Airmen over end strength.

For enlisted Airmen, voluntary programs from last year will continue. These include waivers for Active Duty Service Commitments, time-in-grade, and enlistment contracts. Involuntary programs from last year will also continue including: date of separation rollbacks and initial skills training separations.

There will be two new enlisted force management programs effective in fiscal year 2013; effective 30 September 2013 -- adjusted High Year Tenure limits and Career Job Reservation constraints.

HYT limits will be adjusted for senior airman, staff sergeant, and technical sergeant. Specifically, senior airman will be reduced from 10 to eight years, staff sergeant will be reduced from 20 to 15 years, and technical sergeant will be reduced from 22 to 20 years. Staff sergeants with 16 years or more total active federal military service as of Sept. 30, 2013, will be grandfathered and their HYT will remain at 20 years.

However, according to Chief Master Sgt. Janice Kallinen, 446th Force Support Squadron superintendent, out of McChord Field Wash., these HYT adjustments won't affect the Reserve at the moment.

"I haven't seen anything changing the HYT process for the Reserve," said Kallinen. "What usually happens when the active duty draws down, is a lot of them decide to continue their military careers with the (Reserve)."

Approximately 1,700 Airmen will be affected by the changes to HYT. Airmen will have two additional opportunities to test for promotion before the new HYT takes effect. This implementation timeline provides impacted Airmen 20 months to plan for separation or retirement from active duty should they not be selected for promotion.

CJR constraints will limit the number of first term Airmen who can reenlist based on Air Force Specialty Code career job requirements. The CJR program objective is to prevent surpluses and shortages in the career force. AFPC controls first term reenlistments by maintaining a career job requirement file for each AFSC. Airmen in overmanned career fields eligible for a CJR will be determined by a quality "rank order" process in those constrained AFSCs. The Air Force will announce the expected 15-20 AFSCs to be constrained at a later date.

For officers, voluntary and involuntary programs will continue. Voluntary measures will be offered to officers in certain year groups and overage career fields to allow time-in-grade and ADSC waivers. Likewise, the Expanded PALACE CHASE and the 10 to eight Commission Waiver programs will continue to be offered.

Speaking of Palace Chase, Capt. Vanessa Balint, 446th FSS operations officer agrees with Kallinen when it comes to Reserve numbers increasing, due to the draw down.

"I suspect the Reserve Palace Chase numbers will increase," said Balint. "A lot of the active duty won't be ready to leave the military entirely, so the Reserve would provide them the opportunity to continue their service.

We are always looking for highly skilled, trained, and motivated individuals."

There will be one projected involuntary officer board, a Force Shaping Board, for probationary officers; those officers with less than six years of total active federal commissioned service. The board will consider eligible officers in specified AFSCs and in certain year groups. Details of this board will be announced at a later date.

There are currently no plans for Voluntary Separation Pay, a Reduction in Force board or Selective Early Retirement Boards for FY13. Additionally, some selective continuation limitations, impacting twice deferred Captains and Majors, will remain necessary although potentially less strident than in FY12. As a minimum, the Air Force will consider for selective continuation all officers within 5 years of retirement or those in critical skills.

Air Force leaders are committed to sustaining excellence and meeting fiscal requirements. Today's Airmen should expect continued force management measures until the desired end strength is met.

For any active-duty Airmen interested in researching the Air Force Reserve, contact the 446th Airlift Wing in-service recruiter, Master Sgt. Ken Ake at (253) 982-2247 or visit the Air Force Reserve recruiting website at http://www.afreserve.com/