The Air Force has eliminated the option for public affairs officers to apply for voluntary separation pay incentives, because the public affairs offices are understaffed and many public affairs officers are undergoing six-month deployments. In addition, public affairs lieutenants commissioned in 2005 will not face the force shaping board coming up in 2008. This represents a major turnaround from 2006 and 2007 when they were included with other career fields for voluntary and involuntary separation. Voluntary separation offers a bonus of three times base salary for officers with at least 12 years of service but not more than 15.
