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Show July 16, 1992 Board history could repeat itself 20,000 officers were considered for both the 1973 and 1974 RIF boards, they were still two separate RIF actions, said CoL Albert Schroetel, chief of officer plans and policy at the Pentagon. Today, however, up to 20 percent of eligible officers will be selected for early separation, compared to the Vietnam RIF when there was an overall 10 percent selection rate. "If voluntary measures don't get a better response next year among officers than they did this year, we're officers have All of the received notices from their military personnel offices saying they will be considered for a RIF. In addition, senior raters have been told that if they have eligible officers in the 1980, '81, 482, '83 or '84 year groups, these officers have a 95 percent chance of be- Air David P. Masko Force News Service WASHINGTON History appears itself as the Air Force in force board for a reduction gears up this month and probably another one next year as well, personnel officials said. The pattern was set in October 1973, to be repeating when Vietnam was drawing down, and an officer RIF board met, selecting 944 officers for separation. In November 1974, another RIF board selected 1,133 officers. Although virtually the same group of going to have another officer RIF in fiscal 1994," Schroetel said. "We know pretty much what the end strength is, and unless there's some dramatic new incentives, or people respond more favorably to early release programs, we're going to have to RIF more officers. As for enlisted, we don't know yet," Schroetel told Air Force News Service in June. "It's the same situation today that we had back after Vietnam," Schroetel said. fore the officer RIF board meets. ' For nearly four months, from Jan. 31 to May 29, the Air Force used yearly VSI payments and the lump sum SSB programs to help 29,600 people voluntarily leave the military. The Air Force had hoped 7,500 officers would take the benefit packages, but with "It's a very difficult thing, because not only are careers involved, but the lives of spouses and families." Following the end of the Vietnam War, Schroetel was assigned from Vietnam to the same Pentagon office charged with officer plans and policy that he works in today. It was a "bitter pill" for the Air Force back then, as it is now, to ask some officers to take a RIF. Also, the Vietnam RIF came after lots of Air Force people literally put their "lives on the line" in Southeast Asia, he said. A RIF board will meet Monday at the Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph AFB, Texas, to consider approximately 2,000 reserve active-dut- y officers out of a RIF pool of 9,600 who came on active duty between 1980 and TSgt. 1989. RIF-eligib- le ing separated. Likewise, if they are in the 1985 year group, they have a 75 percent chance of being RIFed. If they are in the '86, '87, '88 and '89 year groups, they have up to a 30 percent chance of being RIFed, and "they all know that," Schroetel said. "The Air Force hasn't taken this RIF lightly, and has done everything possible to avoid it." Although the drawdown is affecting only around 4,900 takers, it was forced to look at involuntary means to reduce the force. In the early 1970s, following the Vietnam cease-firthe Air Force also faced a congressionally mandated cap on and was forced to RIF officers. Prior to Vietnam, Air Force RIFs were conducted in 1954 and 1958. In 1954, 6,500 officers were forced out, while in 1958 the officer RIF netted around 2,000. At the end of the Vietnam War, the Air Force and the Army the Schroetel said, he couldn't remember hardest, it is difficult to assess the overall seriousness of their officer any talk of a need for an enlisted RIF. In fact, there are no records that the RIFs yet, he said. For instance, the Navy and Marines Air Force ever had to RIF enlisted will not conduct an officer RIF this members since becoming a separate year, but the Army plans to RIF service in 1947. officers every single year for the next However, an enlisted RIF might be five years. An Army RIF impacts both necessary in 1994 if the personnel situation gets worse and if not enough regular and reserve active-dut- y officers. people volunteer for future separation The Air Force, like the other servi- programs, he said. ces, must comply with congressional-l- y Separation pay for those forced out in a RIF today can be as high as mandated figures. whereas in in a $40,000, reduction have time you "Any end strength, you prefer to do it by days there was a cap of $15,000. Officers selected by the July 20 RIF voluntary measures, but when people don't leave voluntarily, then you have board must separate by Dec. 31. to do something involuntary, RIFed officers must have six years of total active federal military service as Schroetel said." of their date of separation to be entiAs a final measure, to reduce the RIF requirement, the Air Force is tled to separation pay. RIFed officers collect 10 percent of offering the voluntary separation incentive and special separation benefit their annual base pay, times years of packages to officers previously eligible service. Results of the RIF are expected to for the benefits. Requests for either VSI or SSB must be submitted by be released in late August. e, end-strengt- h, end-streng- th post-Vietna- - ISAT Aerobic Instructor Certification Course a ACE ATA - " st are serious about teaching. 11 thru 8, 1992 DATE: August SITE: Fitness Center 500 West 12th Street Ogden, Utah CONTACT: ISAT (619) FAX (619) 2 m - 4 ' the toughest training for aerobic instructors who COST: 9 close of business July 19, the day be- RIF by Hilltop Times 535-828- 535-912- 3 2 $400 for one week includes training manual, tests and certificate. A, '. 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