Enlisted force reductions: voluntary vs. involuntary separations in 2014

     Involuntary Methods of Separation:
         

· The Quality Force Review Board will consider Airmen with fewer than 18 years, or with 20 years or more of service as of Sept. 30, 2014 whose records contain quality force indicators.

· The board will search for specific negative reporting identifiers, reenlistment eligibility codes, assignment availability codes or grade status reasons currently updated in a member's record as of Dec. 18, 2013.
· Members who are forced to separate from the Air Force will receive full separation pay and will not be required to recuperate GI Bill funds.

· Individuals who are eligible for early retirement, the Temporary Early Retirement Authority Program (TERA) may choose to retire instead of meeting a board.

· Airmen with a performance history that includes but is not limited to the following:

o Awaiting retraining due to disqualification

o Awaiting discharge for cause
o Current referral performance report

o Grade reduction
o Rank not commensurate with years of service

o Five or more days lost time
o Career field skill level not commensurate with grade
o Serving a suspended Article 15 punishment
o Serving on control roster
o Poor fitness assessment
o Disqualified Airmen (for cause) returned to duty program
o Denied reenlistment

· The Senior NCO Retention Board will determine which retirement-eligible Airmen in an overage AFSC and pay grade are retained and which are selected to retire early.
· The board is slated to convene June 16 through July 4, 2014.
Eligibility:
· Senior NCOs with at least 20 years of service as of Nov. 30, 2014 in an overage AFSC and pay grade.

· The Enlisted Retention Boards will determine which Airmen, senior airmen through technical sergeants in overage AFSCs are selected for retention and which Airmen will separate or retire under TERA.
· The ERB is slated to convene June 16 through July 25, 2014.

· Senior airmen through technical sergeants with fewer than 18 years of service in 226 overage AFSCs.

     
     Voluntary Methods of Separation:

· In lieu of meeting a retention board, Airmen eligible for TERA may vouch to receive retirement benefits.

· At least 15 but less than 19 years of service as of July 31, 2014 in specific control AFSCs.
· For a list of eligible AFSCs, visit the FY14 Force Management page of the myPers website, https://mypers.af.mil, or input 25484 on the main page under Search by Keyword and click on search.

· Airmen with at least 19 (but less than 20) years of Total Active Federal Military Service (TAFMS) as of July 31, 2014, may apply to retire, regardless of control AFSC; however, ADSCs for the Critical Skills Retention Bonus will not be waived.
· Lengthy service staff sergeants (those with high year tenure at 20 years) with at least 15, but less than 20, years of TAFMS as of July 31, 2014, may apply to retire, regardless of Control AFSC.
· Airmen with at least 15 (but less than 20) years of TAFMS as of July 31, 2014, scheduled to meet the Quality Force Review Board, regardless of Control AFSC.

Airmen meeting one or more of the conditions below are ineligible to apply:

· Under investigation, under civil charges, pending disciplinary action or pending involuntary discharge.

· Under appellate review or in confinement.
· Pending action under the disability evaluation system under AFI 36-3212, Physical Evaluation for Retention, Retirement, and Separation. If Airmen are subsequently returned to duty, they may apply if otherwise eligible.
· Notified prior to submission of retirement eligibility request of a 365-day Extended Deployment (ED), AEF deployment, or TDY for training in preparation for a 365-day ED or AEF deployment. EXCEPTION: Airmen currently deployed and scheduled to return at least 30 days prior to the established retirement date (Aug. 1, 2014) may apply if they meet the criteria as outlined in "Guidelines for Personnel Deployed/Pre-Deployment TDYs from their Home Station" paragraph below.
· An Airman who is selected for assignment prior to submission of retirement eligibility request may apply; however, if the Airman's Report Not Later Than Date (RNLTD) does not allow sufficient time to receive a reply on the retirement application prior to departure, the Airman must submit a request for extension of the RNTLD and DEROS (if applicable) using the applications in the virtual MPF.
· Master sergeants or senior master sergeants selected for promotion, unless they formally decline.
· Airmen with an approved Date of Separation (DOS) or pending separation or retirement application. If the pending separation or retirement application is disapproved, Airmen may become eligible.

· In lieu of meeting the Enlisted Retention Board, Airmen who meet eligibility requirements for VSP will get 1.25 times separation pay.
· VSP-approved Airmen will have a separation of no later than Sept. 29, 2014.

· Previously identified overage AFSCs who DO NOT meet TERA qualifications

· Airmen with at least six years and one day of service as of Sept. 29, 2014, but no later than Jan. 31, 2015
· (Otherwise eligible Airmen who attain six years of service before Jan. 31, 2015 will be eligible for VSP and will separate on the date they reach six years in service.)

 

· If a member who transferred benefits before meeting the board is subsequently selected for involuntary separation or retirement, the member's service obligation will be treated as complete. If the member attempts to transfer benefits for the first time after board notification of selection for involuntary separation or retirement, the member will not have sufficient retainability to enter into a service obligation and would not be approved for transfer.
· If a member who transferred benefits prior to approval to retire under TERA, either in lieu of meeting the board or notification of an offer to accept TERA by the board, the member's service obligation will be treated as complete. However, if the member attempts to transfer benefits for the first time after approval of TERA, either in lieu of meeting the board or notification of an offer to accept TERA by the board, the member will not have sufficient retainability to enter into a service obligation and would not be approved for transfer.
· If a member has transferred benefits prior to approval to separate under VSP, then the member's service obligation will be treated as complete. However, if the member attempts to transfer benefits for the first time after approval to separate under VSP, the member will not have sufficient retainability to enter into a service obligation and would not be approved for transfer.
· If a member who transferred benefits before meeting the board is subsequently selected for involuntary retirement, the member's service obligation will be treated as complete. If the member attempts to transfer benefits for the first time after board notification of selection for involuntary retirement, the member will not have sufficient retainability to enter into a service obligation and would not be approved for transfer.

· Airmen involuntarily discharged or released under the Enlisted Retention Board program will not be subject to recoupment of the unearned portions of bonuses, special pays, or other monetary incentives. Airmen must meet all MilTA obligations including but not limited to successful course completion and submission of all grades prior to separation/retirement. Failure to meet these requirements will result in recoupment of MilTA funds. Airmen who voluntarily retire, or those who separate in lieu of meeting the Enlisted Retention Board, will be required to repay any unearned portions of bonuses, special pays, or other monetary incentives.

· (Monthly Base Pay) X 12 X (Years in Service) X 10%= (Full Separation Pay)

· EXAMPLE: A staff sergeant with eight years, three months and 13 days of total active federal military service:

o $2922.30 X 12 X 8.25 (3 months=.25 years) X 10% = $28,930.77

· (Monthly Base Pay) X 12 X (Years in Service) X 10% X 1.25 = (Voluntary Separation Pay)
· EXAMPLE: A staff sergeant with eight years, three months and 13 days of total active federal military service:

o $2922.30 X 12 X 8.25 (3 months=.25 years) X 10% X 1.25 = $36,163.46

NOTE: CALCULATION DOES NOT INCLUDE TAXES (Tax rate is dependent on state on home of record)

As the boards for retainability approach, Master Sgt. Heather Roberts, 18th Force Support Squadron career management superintendent, reminds all Airmen to review their records to know where they stand.

"Members need to look at their records and decide on what course of action they want to take," Roberts said. "This board is going to be looking at 10 years, and it's going to include their evaluations, awards and decorations, and any previous quality force indicators."

Similarly, unit commanders or senior raters will prepare enlisted retention recommendation forms for all board-eligible Airmen assigned to their units as of Jan. 17, 2014, and at least 30 days before the board, will provide copies of the recommendation forms to affected Airmen. A copy of the form will also be available for review in each affected Airman's records; those Airmen will get a message from AFPC to let them know when the form is viewable.

"It wouldn't hurt for a member to talk to their first sergeant or commander to ask what kind of recommendation they're going to give to kind of give the member more of an idea of which path they should take," Roberts said.

If selected for separation from the Air Force, members will be given specific out-processing checklists to accomplish. Individuals will also be required to attend the Transition Assistance Program to ease the separating or retirement process.

There have been no published annual retention estimates for the force.

For complete eligibility criteria, letter to the board instructions and other QFRB information, go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil and enter PSDM 13-125 in the search window. For information about TERA, enter PSDM 13-127.

Airmen are advised that information regarding separations is subject to change. Therefore, regularly check the myPers website for updates.

For more information on TAP, contact the Airman and Family Readiness Center at DSN: 634-3366 or visit http://www.kadena.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123376595.