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Show HILLTOP TIMES TIMES 3 April 8, 2010 Air Force leaders expand force management options Submit an original song for MyAirForceLife.com BY TECH. SGT. AMAANI LYLE Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs W ASHINGTON — AiiForce leaders announced March 25 an expansion of force management measures designed to bring the service closer to its authorized funded end strength. Fewer Airmen than anticipated applied for voluntary programs offered under Phase One of the force management program initiated in November of 2009. This has prompted expanded programs to encourage more Airmen to apply for separation or retirement by Sept. 1,2010, or earlier. Both officer and enlisted accessions will be reduced to meet mission requirements. Voluntary and involuntary initiatives also will be implemented as appropriate. Eligibility for these programs will vary by Air Force Specialty Code and years of service to ensure the Air Force has the right balance of skills needed to meet current and future mission requirements. "Air Force retention is at a 15year high," said Brig. Gen. Sharon Dunbar, director of force management policy. "While this is tremendous testament to the dedication of our great Airmen, we now have more Airmen serving than our authorized, funded levels. We also have a number of career fields overmanned at the expense of other critical and stressed career fields. The challenge before us is to keep our force both sized and balanced within authorized, funded levels." jj In an attempt to limit the impact to Airmen who are currently serving, Air Force officials will adjust accessions. Decisions to reduce accessions will be based on career field rearming and future growth. :! Expanded officer measures in- Enlisted force management measures have been expanded to include waiving time-in-grade and limited ADSCs for Airmen in noncritical, overage Air Force specialties and year groups, and waiving up to two years of four- and six-year enlistments for those in noncritical, overage specialties and year groups. Palace Chase transfers also are . available for enlisted personnel with clude waiving active-duty service commitments, or ADSCs, in targeted a one-to-one rather than a two-to-one year commitment. year groups; waiving all but two Dates of separation rollback will years of commissioning commitments for Air Force Academy and result in early release of some Airmen with less than 14 years of serROTC graduates as well as waivvice or more than 20 years of service ing their education and scholarship recoupment costs; and lowering the who have declined training, failed Reserve obligation for Palace Chase initial training, declined retainability transfers from a three-year comfor an assignment or who have negamitment ratio to one year for each tive quality indicators. remaining year of ADSC. Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard and Department of Defense This phase of the force mancivilian hiring opportunities are open agement program also involves a to all Airmen, officials said. Staffs at Selective Early Retirement Board. Airman and Family Readiness CenThe SERB will consider for early ters host the Department of Labor retirement Air Force colonels with four or more years time in grade and Transition Assistance Program, oflieutenant colonels deferred for pro- fering Airmen vital information for motion at least twice. This board will a successful transition from the Air convene July 19-23 to identify those Force. Veterans also receive hiring preference for federal service and who must retire by Jan. 1,2011. are eligible for GI Bill Programs. Officers with more than six and "The Air Force has a long-standless than 12 years of commissioned service in specific career fields and ing tradition of offering comprehensive transition assistance programs," year groups will be offered voluntary separation pay as a means to en- Dunbar said. "It is important for our courage their transition from active- Airmen to know the full range of options and benefits available to them." duty service. Should this incentive fall short of encouraging the number Officials said if the current retenof transitions needed, a reduction in tion environment continues, personforce board will convene in Septem- nel reduction actions will continue ber to identify officers for transition beyond fiscal year 2011. by April 1,2011. For more information on force management options call the Total A force-shaping board also will Force Service Center at (800) 525convene at this time to identify of0102 or visit the Total Force Service ficers with less than six years of commissioned service in designated Center Web site. Dan Elkins contributed to this career fields and year groups for news article. continued retention or separation. BY MAJ. BELINDA PETERSEN Air Force Services Agency Public Affairs ; R ANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas — More; than 70 years ago, Capt. Robert MacArthur \ Crawford, an Airman with the Army Air Corps] won an original song competition with an entry that eventually became the official song for the U.S. Air Force. Crawford wrote the lyr- A A ics and music to "Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder." Now through May 23, Airmen and eligible patrons of Air Force morale, welfare and recreation programs can compete Year of the in an original song competition Air Force at MyAirForceLife.com as part Family of the Year of the Air Force Family. While the winning entry will not become the official song of the Air Force, the adult winner will receive a live, one-hour professional coaching and mentoring Skype session with Thorn Shepherd, an award-winning Nashville songwriter. In addition, the adult and youth winners will receive each a $2,000 gift certificate to Musician's Friend, an online music store. Contestants can upload a three- to four-minute original composition. Go to http://www.MyAirForceLife.com/contests/song_rules.html to choose from four themes. Submissions can be either instrumental or music and lyrics. Songwriters may choose to have someone else perform their original song for the recordedjsubmission. Lyrics are not required for the instrumental version. Once uploaded, visitors to the site can view and vote for their favorite compositions. The earlier the compositions are submitted, the more time it can rack up votes. Even though online voting will determine finalists, Shepherd will decide the winners of both categories. Last year, Air Force Services Agency officials launched MyAirForceLife.com to help Airmen and their families stay connected, informed and engaged in programs as part of the Year of the Air Force Family. Top 7&H Onme, Education TO ACHIEVE YOUR ION FRAME with purchase of Coppertone™ Polarized, Drivewear®or Polarized lenses* Limited Time Offer! 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