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New fiscal year brings retraining programs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anthony J. Hyatt
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Air Force officials have announced the start of the fiscal 2008 Non-Commissioned Officer Retraining Program that is targeting approximately 900 Airmen for retraining from Air Force Specialty Codes with overages to AFSCs with NCO shortages. 

The targeted Airmen are staff sergeants, technical sergeants and master sergeants. 

"The voluntary phase (Phase I) of the program runs Aug. 7 through Sept. 21," said Staff Sgt. Avery Purington, 325th Mission Support Squadron NCO in charge. "If all retraining-out requirements have not been met, an involuntary phase (Phase II) will begin shortly thereafter." 

Identified Airmen are ineligible to initiate voluntary actions making them ineligible for retraining for the duration of the fiscal 2008, such as volunteering for permanent change of station, special duty assignment, 365-day temporary duty deployment, physician assistant, officer pre-commissioning program, separation, retirement and palace chase. 

Some AFSCs that are available to retrain into are Slavic crypto linguist, vehicle maintenance, information management and diagnostic imaging. A complete list of available AFSCs to retrain into is posted on the Virtual Military Personnel Flight Web site. It's called the retraining advisory list. 

What are the pros and cons of the NCORP? 

First, members will be able to continue their military careers. Also, during Phase I, members will be able to choose the AFSCs they wish to retrain into. 

Staff Sgt. Ciara Robinson, 325th Mission Support Squadron NCO in charge personnalist, volunteered to retrain into a new AFSC. 

"I would like to retrain into either Education and Training or Military Equal Opportunity," said Sergeant Robinson. 

"This would allow me to still work directly with the personnel career field," said Sergeant Robinson. 

On the other hand, some members may have to separate on their date of separation or earlier. If phase II becomes necessary, members will be placed in an AFSC that they might not like or be interested in, according to Sergeant Purington. 

"This will potentially be my third AFSC in seven years," Sergeant Robinson. "I enjoy working in some type of customer service." 

Airmen volunteering for Phase I will have some control over their retraining prospects. While waiting for Phase II, the Airmen's new AFSC may be chosen for them.