Air Force officials released more details on the Fiscal 2014 enlisted date of separation rollback program Dec. 17. The program will accelerate the date of separation for senior master sergeants and below who meet the following criteria: having served less than 15 years on Active Duty as of May 31 or 20 years or more of Active Duty by April 30; a DOS by at least May 31, 2015 or April 30, 2015, for airmen eligible to retire; and having a 3D or 3E reenlistment code, an 09 assignment availability code, or a 3E grade status reason that renders them ineligible to reenlist, states the Air Force Personnel Center release. Airmen who qualify for this program will not be required to repay unearned portions of bonuses, special pays, or other monetary incentives, said Rick Garcia, AFPC retirements and separations branch chief. Additionally, airmen affected by the rollback qualify for separation pay, said Garcia. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh announced last week a series of voluntary and involuntary force management programs necessary as the Air Force looks to trim its endstrength by as much as 25,000 over the next five years.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.