AFH 1 · Chapter 8 · Section 8.16

USAF Retraining Program

Part of Followership · 3 sections · ~539 words · WAPS PFE study material

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USAF Retraining Program Overview

Why Retraining Exists

Retraining is a force management tool used primarily to:

Balance career fields (officer and enlisted) across all AFSCs
Ensure sustainability of career fields

Additional Use

Retraining also provides a means to return disqualified Airmen to a productive status.

Voluntary and Involuntary

Although Airmen may be selected for involuntary retraining based on USAF needs, the retraining program allows a limited number of Airmen the opportunity to pursue other career paths in the USAF.

Online Retraining Advisory

Living Document

The Online Retraining Advisory is a living document found on myFSS, maintained by the Air Force Personnel Center as a key tool used to advise members of retraining opportunities.

Reference

For additional information on retraining eligibility and application procedures, refer to AFMAN 36-2100.

First-Term Airmen Retraining Program

CONUS Window

First-term Airmen assigned to the Continental United States may apply:

CONUS Application Window.

Not earlier than the first duty day of the month during which they complete 35 months of their current enlistment (59 months for six-year enlistees)
Not later than the last duty day of the 43rd month of their current enlistment (67 months for six-year enlistees)

OCONUS Window

OCONUS Application Window

First-term Airmen assigned outside the Continental United States may apply for retraining 9 to 15 months prior to the date they are eligible to return from overseas, if serving within their normal first-term window (35th month for four-year enlistees or 59th month for six-year enlistees).

Airmen with an indefinite return from overseas date must complete the original tour length before departing for retraining.

Selection Process

On the last duty day of each month, the Air Force Personnel Center selects the most eligible Airmen for retraining based on quality indicators:

Most recent performance report rating
Current grade
Projected grade
Previous two performance report ratings
Date of rank
Total active federal military service date
Aptitude qualification examination score (electrical, mechanical, administrative, general)
Air Force Enlisted Classification Directory, Part II
Requested AFSC preferences

NCO Retraining Program — Phases I and II

Purpose

The NCO retraining program is designed to retrain second-term and career Airmen from overage USAF specialties into shortage specialties to:

Optimize the enlisted force
Best meet current and future mission needs

Secondary AFSCs

Return to Shortage Skill

Airmen possessing a secondary or additional AFSC in a shortage skill may be returned to the shortage skill if in the best interest of the USAF.

Two-Phase Structure

The NCO retraining program consists of two phases.

Phase I — Voluntary

Phase I Objective

The objective of Phase I is to obtain volunteer applicants from identified overage AFSCs to fill requirements in shortage specialty codes.

All Airmen with retraining 'out' objectives may apply for any available specialty codes with retraining 'in' objectives for which they qualify.

Phase II — Mandatory

Phase II Trigger

During Phase I, if sufficient applications are not received and retraining objectives for the fiscal year are not met, Phase II is implemented.

In Phase II, Airmen will be selected for mandatory retraining based on USAF needs to balance the force.

Master Vulnerability List

The master vulnerability list is used to select Airmen for mandatory retraining.

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