The Air Force Monday announced updates to civilian force management programs and the ongoing officer early retirement and enlisted retention board programs. Ninty-one of the 248 applicants in round three of the voluntary early retirement authority/voluntary separation incentive pay application for the civilian force were approved for voluntary separation, effective Aug. 31. A fourth round will open up July 21-Aug. 1, and will focus on the number of employees who may be impacted by the mandated 20 percent management headquarters staff reductions, states the July 7 release. In addition, the results of an enhanced selective early retirement board review will be made available to commanders at the end of this month and the enlisted retention boards will provide their reports for senior airmen through technical sergeant ERB will be released by mid-August. There are still numerous Air Force Reserve and ANG positions available, according to the release.
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.