AF trying to avoid involuntary RIFs while cutting 16,600 airmen by
2005

(EXCERPT) , By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes European edition,
Saturday, March 6, 2004

ARLINGTON, Va. — With a March 12 deadline fast approaching, only some
1,250 airmen have asked the Air Force for an early out under the first
phase of a “force shaping” project to eliminate 16,600 airmen from the
force over the next 18 months.

And more than half of those who have had offered to leave early have
had their applications disapproved, according to statistics provided
by Air Force officials.

The Air Force must cut thousands from its personnel roster because
soaring retention rates and stop-loss orders have boosted the
service’s manning levels beyond the Congressionally authorized end
strength of 359,000 airmen.

Those airmen must be gone by Sept. 30, 2005, the end of the
government’s fiscal 2005, Air Force...

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---------------------------
Otis Willie
Associate Librarian
The American War Library
http://www.americanwarlibrary.com