More Airmen are being encouraged to seek opportunities to exit
the service under an expanded force-shaping program in fiscal
2005. Air Force planners have opened more career fields for
force-shaping eligibility by dropping from a 100-percent
sustainment level to 95 percent. This increases the eligibility
pools by about 30 percent for enlisted Airmen and 50 percent
for officers. The force-shaping initiatives include two phases
encompassing fiscal 2004 and 2005 to move the Air Force closer
to its authorized end strength of 359,700. Initially, the
force-shaping goal targeted 3,900 officers and 13,700 enlisted
for separation. Because of record retention rates, the Air
Force expected that total to increase to almost 24,000 by Sept.
30. Personnel officials said they hope active-duty Airmen will
remain part of the total force by choosing separation options
such as Palace Chase, Operation Blue to Green or transitioning
to civil service.