JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas, January 29, 2014 (AFNS) – The Air Force will convene an officer reduction in force board June 16 to evaluate eligible officers for retention, Air Force Personnel Center officials said Jan. 27. Officers who meet the RIF board and are not selected for retention must separate by Jan. 31, 2015.
RIF is among several fiscal 2014 force management programs that have been or will be implemented to help achieve manpower and force structure goals as the service focuses on 2015 and beyond, said Lt. Col. Rick Garcia, the AFPC retirements and separations branch chief.
Prior to convening the board, the Air Force will accept applications from RIF-eligible officers for the voluntary separation pay and Temporary Early Retirement Authority programs.
RIF-eligible officers may apply for voluntary separation pay between Feb. 6 and May 1. Those approved will receive 1.25 times the standard full separation pay and may apply for separation effective Sept. 29, Garcia said. Officers who meet the RIF board and are selected for separation will be entitled to full separation pay. To review VSP eligibility and application instructions, go to myPers and enter PSDM 14-08 in the search window.
Eligible officers may also apply for TERA between Jan. 14 and March 26, 2014. To review TERA eligibility and application instructions, go to myPers and enter PSDM 13-128 in the search window.
Officers eligible to meet the RIF board include line of the Air Force, biomedical sciences corps, dental corps, medical corps, medical service corps and nurse corps captains in year groups 2005-2008 and LAF majors in year groups 2001-2003 with the above majors in year groups from 1997-2007 depending on the specific non-line corps. The board will also consider LAF-J officers with a date of rank to major of May 1, 2010 through Sept. 30, 2013. Officers with fewer than six years of active commissioned time or 18 years or more of total active-duty service as of Jan. 31, 2015 will not be considered for RIF. In addition, officers on an approved promotion list and those with less than a year of time in grade by Jan. 31, 2015 will not be considered. Officers eligible for retirement or within two years of eligibility by the mandatory separation date will also not meet the board.
Officers selected for separation will not have to pay back funds associated with education, permanent change of station, and other active-duty service commitment programs, but may have to repay any Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits transferred to their families, if they have not fulfilled the associated ADSC, Garcia said.
All separating and retiring Airmen must attend a transition assistance program offered at their local Airman and Family Readiness Center. The program includes congressionally mandated pre-separation counseling; a required five-day transition workshop; veterans benefit briefings, which include details on disability; one-on-one assistance to develop an individual transition plan and a capstone, which requires commander concurrence that the member has met all career readiness standards.
Other related services include employment resources; financial planning and management; spouse employment assistance; relocation assistance and general information and referral.
“We highly encourage all Airmen affected by force management programs to sign up early for a TAP class,” Garcia said. “Force management coupled with routine separations and retirements activity will have a significant impact on availability. So waiting until you learn the results of the board may prevent you from getting into a conveniently-scheduled class.”
For more information about the reduction in force and voluntary separation pay, including application instructions, go to myPers and enter “PSDM 13-130” in the search window.