The Air Force's 'stop-loss' program, which suspended normal separations and retirements in critical Air Force positions during Kosovo operations, ended June 22 for all Air Force members not deployed in Kosovo.
Units deployed in the Balkans will be released from stop-loss upon return to their home stations. The Air Force is phasing out the program, rather than ending it outright, to allow Kosovo units time to return troops and equipment to home bases.
Stop-loss began on June 15 with the intent of keeping critical airmen from retiring during the air campaign over Yugoslavia. The Air Force estimates stop-loss affected 40 percent, or approximately 120,000, of airmen on active duty. Slightly more than 6,000 airmen who had requested and received permission to separate or retire from the Air Force between June 15 and December were required to remain in uniform as a result of stop-loss.
Air Force reservists were officially released from stop-loss on June 22 as well.
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