Air Force to cut officers, spur early retirement, news report says
Congressional mandates require 436 Air Force captains and majors to lose their jobs, Federal New Radio reports.
The Air Force plans to cut 436 captains and majors from their ranks by March 2012, Federal News Radio reported.
The move is part of a reduction-in-force initiative that the service says is necessary "in order to meet the Air Force's congressionally mandated end-strength of 332,800 officers and enlisted Airmen by Sept. 30, 2012," according to a recent press release.
Additionally, the Air Force is also undergoing a date-of-separation rollback, allowing senior airmen to leave service prior to their original end date, according to Federal News Radio. Airmen qualified to receive the offer have received a grade of senior master sergeant or below, with either fewer than 14 or more than 20 years of service. These airmen must separate by March 31, 2012, as stated in a separate release.