FY08 Force shaping updates...
 

Hello, 2nd post here but there seems to be a big buzz over the VSP topic and whatnot. I got this straight from the force shaping people, and it jives with an article released 24 July in the AF Times.

Basically they put together a reccomendation to Secaf, and if he approves it..that's what becomes the program for the year with force shaping.

What they reccomended is separating 600 officers and 1600 enlisted members.

150 of these people will come from the 2005 yr group through normal forceshaping voluntary programs, then involuntary if they still show an overage by the time the board meets.

The rest of these numbers will come from all career fields that will be listed as an overage on the new matrix.

They will get these 450 people through VSP, but heres the kicker, only 200 slots for VSP, first come first serve. Another kicker, reccomended to Secaf to only be for people in the 12-15yr groups.

The remaining 250 people will be attained through all voluntary programs, as of yesterday, no RIF planned for FY08. We'll obviously know more come Aug 15 when they release the info. They will begin accepting applications on 4 Sep.

Any word on how much the Matrix will change? Specifically, my career field/year group is 12 heavy. Did they say these overages will generally continue into next year's Force Shaping?

Thanks for the update. I've been checking the AFPC site numerous times a day :confused:

I did not ask about that, and I could not even venture a guess.

What seems silly to me, is that for VSP they have to pay a 12yr person twice as much as a 6yr person, so had they offered it to the 6yr people, they could have gotten 400 people to leave for the same coin.

I was sorta hoping for VSP as I am in the 02 yr group and could have used it to pay for all of my ratings.

Ya me too. I'm still kinda miffed by missing VSP eligibility by only a few months. They say the AF is all about timing. Seems like I always seem to miss those right times!

Any word on Palace Chase or LADSC being offered?

Palace Chase is always an option. There's two ways to go about it one thru the Force Shaping Program, which I think you, might be asking about and the other is thru the SECAF. Both use the same paper work; the only difference is who approves the application a Full Bird at AFPC (i.e. Assignment Section Chief) or the SECAF. The only caveat to the SECAF route is that it is a 3 for 1 swap instead of a 2 for 1 swap under Force Shaping.

A good rule to go by for a date of seperation from active duty is usually one year from your ADSC ending. Anything more and the AFPC usually squawk about your time remaining. Usually if you get to that point you can 7 day opt any assignment they give you and stay put for that year and then get out without any strings.

Just speaking from experience!!!

As of a couple weeks ago, my MPF was advertising that Palace Chase under Force Shaping is currently a 1 for 1 swap. Wicked, can you clarify your original post? Will there be 450 or 200 VSP slots available. Thanks for posting the info. Much appreciated.

200 VSP slots

The breakdown of the numbers are as follows;

600 total need to leave

150 will come from the 05yr group

450 remain, up to 200 of which can get VSP if within the 12-15yr window.

She also warned that SECAF can change whatever part of the program he wants, and this is just what they submitted to him, but this is likely what is going to go through.

So this one is targeting an older crowd than the last? As I recall the last VSP topped out at 12 years. And if I understood, only 200 people will get VSP then they'll RIF the rest? Quite a difference from the last.

I didn't use PC in 04, but I applied and was approved. However, when I did it, you could apply under Force Shaping or Regular PC. Here was the difference:

Under Force Shaping, if you were in an AFSC that was heavy, auto approved. If not, auto denied.

Under Regular, they actually looked at your paperwork and read your justification stuff.

With "Regular," people above the rank of E-5 will read your package and work with you. With FS, some airman might not even get your package out of the local MPF. It could be different now, but if you're in an AFSC that is undermanned and trying to work a special circumstance deal, your chances were much better under "Regular" PC.

They said they are not planning a RIF.

Last year they said they would use a RIF if they did not get the numbers,likely because they had to cut a lot more people last year. So if the language makes the same threat this year, then yeah, there might be a RIF, but I don't think there will be.