Air Force officials conclude 2010 NCO retraining program

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  The 2010 NCO Retraining Program has
concluded with 966 Air Force NCOs identified to transition to new career
fields and the successful introduction of two new procedures.

Efforts to rebalance the NCO force are being considered a success this year,
officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here said.

"We are very happy with the results of NCORP this year since we met our
objectives," said Col. William Foote, the director of AFPC's Personnel
Services Directorate. "Those objectives included shortening the cycle time
of identifying individuals to fill our shortage Air Force specialties and
getting as close as possible to 100 percent of those shortfalls filled. We
were pleased to meet a majority of our objectives through volunteers to
retrain."

NCORP is an Air Force program designed to maintain balance in enlisted
manning across career fields. In Phase I, designated NCOs may volunteer to
retrain into their choice of stressed career fields. In Phase II, officials
identify nonvolunteers for retraining based on remaining Air Force needs.
Airmen who are identified for retraining in Phase II may elect to retrain or
separate from the Air Force.

NCORP concluded with a 96 percent fill rate out of 1,003 candidates. The
other 4 percent are still available.

While personnel officials are pleased with the program's results, they are
reminding members there are slots that still need to be filled and
encouraging interested Airmen to volunteer.

Airmen can find the available Air Force specialties on the master retraining
list on the virtual Military Personnel Flight. Airmen can click on the
retraining button to view current information.

Personnel officials said this year's program successfully introduced two
changes to the program benefitting members.

First, the total process for the program was condensed to 120 days from six
to nine months. This change gave Airmen more time to pursue special duty
assignments and other career opportunities once they were released from the
retraining list. Once an NCO was released from the list of NCOs eligible for
retraining, he or she was free to pursue other career choices, officials
said.

Second, members were allowed to apply for special programs such as military
training instructors that previously would have made them ineligible to
participate in NCORP. This provided Airmen greater flexibility and increased
their opportunity to retrain, AFPC officials said.

"The changes provided more options for Airmen and helped us fill special
duty positions," Colonel Foote added.

For more information on NCORP, visit AFPC's Personnel Services Web site and
search the key word "retraining." Airmen can also contact their military
personnel section, career development section, base career assistance
advisor or the 24/7 Total Force Service Center toll-free at 800-525-0102.