The Air Force announced May 10 that it is separating 846 of 2,084 lieutenants in the 2002 and 2003 accession year groups no later than Sept. 29. Last year, the Air Force announced that it had a surplus of lieutenants in 14 specialties — mostly support roles like finance, personnel and public affairs. As part of its force shaping plan, it set a goal of reducing by 1,100 the number of surplus junior officers in those specialties. Early this year, the more than 4,000 lieutenants affected were given the choice to move to another field or the reserve force or to face the separation board. About half the lieutenants moved to other fields. The reduction in lieutenants is in addition to a planned cutback next year of 40,000 airmen of every rank across the Air Force.