The Air Force will continue enlisted date of separation rollbacks as part of its overall force management plan. The rollback plan will accelerate the date of separation or retirement for senior master sergeants and below with less than 14 or more than 20 years of service. Airmen must separate by March 31, 2012, or retire by April 1, 2012, according to a release. Those wishing to submit their retirement request must do so through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight by Dec. 1. “Airmen with at least 180 days of active-duty service who are separated under the DOS Rollback are authorized transition and assistance benefits” that include “extended military care for themselves and their families and an ID card allowing base commissary and exchange privileges for two years,” states the release. Those with more than six years of experience, but less than 20 years total active service, may receive one half of the separation pay, but they must also sign up for the Individual Ready Reserve for at least three years following the completion of their military service.
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.