Force shaping urges Airmen to evaluate career goals

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Raughton
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The Secretary of the Air Force has authorized the use of force shaping programs for both enlisted and officers for the next fiscal year.

The Temporary Early Retirement Authority program will allow eligible Airmen with 15 to 20 years of service to retire earlier in an effort to reduce personnel.

"If the Air Force doesn't reach its end-strength personnel target, involuntary programs will be implemented, such as date-of-service rollbacks for enlisted Airmen or early retirement boards for officers," said Maj. Andrea Tileston, 2nd Force Support Squadron operations officer.

With a critical mission to accomplish in air, space and cyberspace, manpower will be balanced across the Air Force while keeping within the limits of the 2014 fiscal budget.

"Air Force leaders are working hard to ensure we meet end strength restrictions without harming the mission or the Airmen who accomplish it," said Lt. Col. John Barlett, Air Force Personnel Center operations division chief. "Force management programs help us do that - they enable us to offer retirement and separation incentives and options that Airmen wouldn't otherwise have. Every approved volunteer is one fewer Airman that we may have to lose to a non-volunteer program."

Furthermore, eligible Airmen can also apply for a limited active duty service commitment waiver, which could cut up to two years from an Airman's current enlistment contract.

However, not all Airmen who apply can be granted an ADSC waiver, and those who have control rosters, Article 15s or other unfavorable information may be scrutinized by their command under this program.

Non-volunteer programs, such as date-of-service rollbacks, can affect Airmen who have served less than 14 years or more than 20 years.

"The unit commander will decide whether or not to retain Airmen or if they want to add them to the DOS rollback and separate that Airman from the Air Force," said 1st Lt. JanRay Calpito, 2nd Force Support Squadron Military Personnel Section chief. "Commanders will work hand-in-hand with the first sergeants on a case-by-case basis with every member on the list for a DOS rollback."

The force management programs are beneficial, they give Airmen looking for other career opportunities an avenue to separate early, Calpito said.

Airmen who don't want to separate but are in an overmanned Air Force Specialty Codes may apply for retraining within their window of eligibility.

"Only so many Airmen are going to get a career job reservation," said Tileston. "You have to apply to be able to get a CJR to reenlist in your career field. Look on the portal and see the CJR restraint list. You need to look at your own career aspirations, but waiting until the end of your enlistment is not a good idea."

Tileston advises Airmen in overmanned career fields to see if they meet qualifications for another AFSC they might be interested in or talk to the career assistance advisor, Master Sgt. Marquet Johnson.

"Take control of your own destiny," she said. "Being proactive is a good thing in a time of uncertainty."