Force Shaping Cancelled

  • Published
  • By 509th Bomb Wing
  • Public Affairs
(Editor's note: the following information was received from Headquarters United States Air Force in Washington, D.C.)

The Department of Defense has approved the Air Force Active Duty end strength increase to 330,000 in fiscal year 10. This is not far from our current end strength, but it is an increase of 13,400 positions from our previously projected fiscal year 09 end strength of 316,600.

This will significantly change how the Air Force is managed; shifting us from a drawdown mode to a focus on shaping the force to meet new and emerging missions. This will require accessing, retaining and retraining to acquire and maintain the skills needed for the new requirements under the 330,000 end strength. Before discussing what the new end strength means for our Air Force, it will be helpful to review where we currently stand: 

          Mar. 31, the fiscal year 08 force shaping officer voluntary separation pay, officer     limited active duty service commitment waiver, and the enlisted and officer force shaping palace chase programs closed.

          April 30, the lieutenant colonel and colonel time-in-grade waiver for retirement program and the eight-year commissioned service retirement program closed. 

           The Blue-to-Green program: Interservice transfer to the Army will remain open until further notice. However, airmen may request withdrawal of Blue-to-Green applications that have not been finalized by the Air Force or Army. 

"Blue-to-green is just one of the programs that are available to Air Force members who were affected by Force Shaping," said Jennifer Knoblock, Whiteman Military Personnel Flight. "In most cases, members will retain their rank and will only be required to attend Army specific training."

Approval of requests for withdrawal of Blue-to-Green applications is not guaranteed, and will be based on the Airman's career field sustainment. Airmen should consult the Air Force Personnel Center force shaping website at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/forceshape for further information on withdrawing their Blue-to-Green application.
 
All previously approved applications for VSP or other force shaping programs for Airmen who have not yet separated will be honored. Airmen may, as an exception to policy, apply for withdrawal of their VSP or other approved date of separation or retirement date. Approval of requests for withdrawal will be based on career field sustainment and AFPC functional manager input.

For FY09, the Air Force will not attempt to achieve additional losses above and beyond normal attrition. Instead, the Air Force will focus on truly "shaping the force" to ensure we have the right balance of grades and skills to adequately sustain the force both short- and long-term.

The Air Force plans to implement a first-ever officer retraining program. Some company grade officers in will be eligible for retraining into other career fields. We anticipate selections for retraining to be announced in the summer of 2009 with school attendance for training beginning in the fall of 2009.

Although there will be no enlisted force shaping program in FY09, normal management tools and programs will be utilized to shape the force.

All future applications to waive active duty service commitments for separation or retirement, as well as palace chase and interservice transfer programs, will be processed and evaluated in accordance with existing Air Force instructions, policy and procedures.

"Members will have to contact the Air Force Personnel Center for assistance with any applications they put in regarding force shaping," Mrs. Knoblock said.

As we move forward, we will remain flexible in using any and all tools at our disposal to manage and develop airmen to achieve the Air Force's mission.