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Show "2 ' HilltopTimbs rfAay 28, 1992 Rocky road From left,. Tammy Moss, Arlene Flinders, Liz V w;. t c . t Ljj, yr V Fuentes and Jolene Arave, all with Civilian Personnel, spruce up around Bldg. 1244. The group did their good deed as part of a spring clean-uproject. "-A- .'- V?'-- i V: , :", Y' ' I p Photo by Doug James Continued from Page 1 The number of additional losses needed hasn't changed; the Air Force still needs 7,500 officers to accept either the voluntary separation incentive or the special separation benefit to meet end strengths and avoid a RIF. As of May 18, 4,209 officers and 23,630 enlisted members had applied. offerBecause the officer response to the VSI-SSing has been slow, eligible officers in the 1980 to s 1985 remain as vulnerable now as when" the incentive program first started, Robertson said. are most vulneraWhile the 1980-198year-group- s face a 75 percent ble, officers in the 1985 year-grourisk. vulnerability Based on the number of applications received so far, estimated vulnerability for the 1986-198- 9 year from the been reduced has previously angroups nounced 37 percent to approximately 30 percent.' When the April 15 deadline passed for the original VSI and SSB offer, the Air Force was nearly 3,800 officer applications short with only 50 percent of the volunteers needed having applied. Phase II was initiated with hopes of meeting both the officer and enlisted requirements while reducing or eliminating any reduction in force requirements. B year-group- 4 p Some pilots, RANDOLPH AFB, Texas (AFNS) Six weeks into the 1993 Voluntary Officer Early Release program the Air Force received slightly more than 100 applications for early release. Personnel officials are looking to release about 650 pilots and about 600 s through the program. Officers may request a date of separation of Sept. 29, 1993, or earlier, or a retirement date of Sept. 1, 1993, or earlier. While separation applications may be submitted any time, retirement applications must be submitted non-pilot- With the May 29 deadline rapidly approaching, "we are confident we will avoid an enlisted RIF," Robertson said. But it's a "virtual certainty" that an officer RIF will be necessary, and a board has been tentatively scheduled for July 20 at the Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas. The last Air Force RIF was in 1974 with those officers affected leaving the service in 1975. .While still exploring alternatives, Robertson said the point was made right from the start that failure .to meet end strength, figures would probably-havto result in RIF actions. "We've looked at it from as many angles as we can. About the only option left is a board." The RIF board will consider active-dut- y Reserve officers for involuntary separation. Selected officers will have to separate from the Air Force by Dec. 31. Those with at least six years of total active federal military service by Dec. 31 will be eligible for separation pay. All officers selected will be eligible for transition benefits. "The whole drawdown has obviously generated its own brand of turbulence, concern and speculation ' ' ' ' in the field," Robertson saidr Those impacted include not only RIF eligibles but. e non-pilo- ts than months before the desired effective date. Officers who have previously established a voluntary date of separation may ask for an earlier separation date, if otherwise eligible. There is no guarantee an earlier date will be approved. People eligible for the July 20 reduction in force board may choose to separate instead. To avoid a possible RIF, officers must request a date of separation that is no later than the mandatory RIF separation date of no' more illtop Times Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. 12 people affected by selective early retirement boards, reduced high-year-tenure and other early release both programs voluntary and involuntary. "Because of the broad range of options available, everyone's particular level of impact has been different. Commanders need to understand and deal with each case individually," Robertson said. "The primary focus of our effort has been, and should be, on reducing the impact on that relatively small percentage of the force affected by involuntary , reduction programs. For the remainder, the majority of our people, their primary concern should 've been only whether or not to sign up for VSI or SSB." The Air Force goal is to continue to "make it as painless as possible by soliciting as many volunteers as possible," Robertson said. Nearly 28,000 people have applied for either VSI or SSB since the program started, with more than 25,000 applications approved as of May 18. Of the 4,209 officer applications received, 3,532 have been approved, while 21,981 of the 23,630 enlisted takers have been accepted. Officers applying for VSI total 2,191, with 2,018 opting for SSB. Enlisted SSB takers number 21,105, with 2,525 choosing VSI. -- of opt for early release Dec. 31. Those exempted from RIF consideration by having an established DOS may not request withdrawal of that date of separation. Undergraduate pilot training students have the option of separating before graduation or upon graduation. People asking for a date of separation to be effective upon graduation will be allowed to complete training. Officers enrolled in other formal training programs and UPT students asking for a date of separation to be . 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Personnel officials say individuals should plan for at least 45 days processing time, plus the amount of any terminal leave to be taken, when requesting a date of separation or retirement. The retirements and separations section of the military personnel office, Ext. or has more Hill AFB Editorial Staff t Maj. Gtn. Dalt W. Thompson Jr. Moj. Wad J. HabiUy Gary Hatch. SSgt. Barbara Fisher.. Francts Kosakowtky, Lisa Colgatt Commander, OO-AL- C Dirtctor, Public Affoiri , Editor Assistant tditor Staff writers Dadlini Editorial and "Around th Hill" items, 3 p.m. Tuesday, nine days before publication; sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, wtk of publication; classified ads, noon Tuesday, week of publication. For more information, call the editors, Exts. 1 i |