Separation Incentives, Forced Retirements On Tap

The Defense Department has asked Congress for separation incentives and forced-retirement authorities the services could use as force shaping tools to thin out overpopulated job specialties and skills. One tool would be a lump sum bonus of perhaps $25,000 for enlisted members who separate voluntarily before reaching their 20-year retirement window. An alternative would be an annuity for voluntary early separation. A third provision would be high-year tenure gates for officers, similar to those used now for enlisted members. A fourth measure would be authority to convene Involuntary Selective Early Retirement Boards for officers. Tools similar to these four were used during the post-Cold War drawdown. The Navy and Air Force would be the most likely services to participate initially because the Navy intends to cut 25,000 sailor slots by 2007 and the Air Force expects to cut 2,300 next year.