FSS holds town hall meetings on force shaping

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman David Owsianka
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Luke Air Force Base Airmen were provided with information on several new force management programs Jan. 29 and 30 during town hall meetings at the Luke AFB theater.

"The force management program has been implemented to meet congressionally mandated end strength for current and future mission requirements," said Lt. Col. Todd Ladd, 56th Force Support Squadron commander.

"The briefings were held to ensure all Airmen understand the general terms of what programs are occurring during fiscal 2014 and where they can get more information," he said.

Most of the force management programs have two phases: a voluntary phase and an involuntary phase.

In the voluntary phase, Airmen in an over-manned Air Force Specialty Code, rank or year group can apply for voluntary programs like voluntary separation pay, temporary early retirement authority program or Palace Chase.

During the involuntary phase, officers in over-manned AFSCs and year group could meet a force shaping board or reduction in force board, while enlisted Airmen in overage AFSCs and rank combinations could meet an enlisted retention board.

The VSPP is for active-duty personnel with more than six, but fewer than 20 years of total active federal military service, and who have served at least five years of continuous active-duty immediately preceding the date of separation.

TERA allows certain military members to request retirement prior to completing 20 years of TAFMS. Eligible members include individuals with 15 but less than 19 years of TAFMS as of July 31, who are serving in specific overage control AFSCs for enlisted and core AFSCs for officers; and individuals with 19 but less than 20 years of TAFMS, as of July 31, regardless of control AFSC or core AFSC.

The Palace Chase program allows active-duty officers and enlisted Airmen to voluntarily transfer from active duty to the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard. The member's remaining active-duty service commitment or term of enlistment may be waived for approved applicants in exchange for the member's agreement to participate in a selected Reserve program.

Not all of the Airmen who attended the meetings will be affected by the force management program.

"I attended a meeting to make sure I have all the necessary information to answer any questions that the Airmen have in my squadron," said 2nd Lt. Julie Donnan, 56th Logistic Readiness Squadron readiness officer-in-charge.

For more information about the force management program, visit myPers at https://mypers.af.mil/ or call Staff Sgt. Jennifer Hughes at 623-856-7820 in career development.