Clearing up Force Reduction confusion

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephanie Englar
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Col. Jim Sears, 14th Flying Training Wing Commander, held a series of Town Hall meetings Dec. 17 to discuss the U.S. Air Force 2014 Force Management programs that will impact active duty members and civilian employees.

The Wing commander started the meeting by asking how many people read the recent news announcement as '18 different ways to kick 25,000 people out of the Air Force'. Seeing a group of mixed murmurs and head nods, he continued the meeting by explaining the reasons behind the cuts in manpower and equipment that are scheduled over the next few years and that the cuts should affect less than 1 out of 10 Airmen.

"Why are we doing all of these things?" asked Sears. "If you read the news this weekend, you'll have read that the Department of Defense received $66 billion worth of sequestration relief over the next few years."

Sears explained that $66 billion over the next two years for the Department of Defense translates to $5 billion this year for the Air Force. While $5 billion may sound like a huge number, it still won't bring the Air Force to where it needs to be.

"With $5 billion to the Air Force this year we can't even re-qualify all the pilots that were grounded last year," said Sears. "We can't even catch up to where we were supposed to be on Oct. 1."

In the letter addressed to the Airmen of the United States Air Force, senior leaders wrote that their biggest challenge would be to make sure they kept the skilled Airmen who are needed to meet the Air Force's core mission.

"It all starts today, that's where the 25,000 people come from," started Sears. "It could be over the next five years...it could be over the next one. It all comes down to the fact that not enough of us are getting out. That has taken some career fields and ranks and over-manned and overpopulated them in a way that we have to right-size the force. We want to do that voluntarily; we don't want to remove anybody that wants to serve in the Air Force and is in good standing."

Sears continued by saying, "Ten years from now, if you want to have an Air Force that can win a war that actually puts the United States at risk, we have to start planning for that today. We can't do that without some cuts with people and some cuts with equipment."

In that same letter from senior leaders, they wrote that while they knew the programs were unsettling to Airmen and their families, they felt they were necessary to ensure that our Air Force remains the best in the world. They continued the letter by saying that they promise to be transparent and give out all the information that will affect many Airmen and their families, and they wanted to do that as quickly as possible.


After discussing the reasons behind the personnel cuts, Sears explained to the Airmen how to stay informed on the issue at hand, and how to take care of themselves and their families if they happen to be one of the Airmen selected.

"Step one is to check your records," stated Sears. "This is the most important piece of what happens because job performance is what is going to make or break you on this one. If you are like the overwhelming majority of great Airmen that we have at Columbus Air Force Base, which means you've done your job well and don't have any negative paperwork in your record, then you must ensure that is the record going to go to the board."

Sears continued by telling Airmen to go online and look at their records and make sure their records are in good standing.

For Airmen who are eligible for one of the Force Management programs, Sears encouraged them to meet with their supervisor as step two.

"You need to force your supervisor to have an open and honest discussion with you about what your options are if you are eligible for one of these programs," said Sears.

There are many resources for information out there, www.mypers.af.mil is a good place to start.

Sears continued the meeting by telling the audience that this is not a team player check.

"You need to feel comfortable with going to your commander and asking questions such as 'What is in my best interest?' and 'Should I be thinking of getting out?' and not feel like that is going to negatively affect you on your future evaluations," said Sears.

The 25,000 personnel cut will have a few other drawbacks as well. For Airmen interested in cross-training, options will be even more limited as the force gets smaller.

"If this program is 'perfect' then all of the career fields will come out of this and be manned where we need them to be manned, which will affect cross-training opportunities," said Sears. "There may be a few that are undermanned. If we right-size all the rest of them there won't be anyone to cross-train. The opportunities just won't be there."

At the current moment the AFSC list has not been released. Sears told the audience that if they are one of the Airmen affected by one of the Force Management programs they should know by the beginning of the new year.

"There is no worse time of the year to roll out 18 different force management programs than Dec. 13," said Sears, "but it's the only way to give Airmen and their families time to make the right decision." He closed the town halls by reminding Airmen, "to take care of folks because there is a lot of uncertainty. Check your wingman, make sure they are doing okay, and get with your supervisor quickly if you figure out you are in one of these programs so that we can help take care of you right away."