NCO retraining program application window open

  • Published
  • By Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --  Staff sergeant-selects through master sergeants in overage career fields can apply for retraining into an undermanned career field during Phase I of the fiscal 2014 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program. Retraining applications will be accepted June 4 to July 7.

The two-phase program is used to balance and sustain the enlisted force by moving second-term and career Airmen from overage career fields to shortage career fields, said Master Sgt. Lytronda Clay, the Air Force Personnel Center retraining policy superintendent.

Master Sgt. Holly Roschel, 354th Force Support Squadron career assistance advisor, said the program offers an outstanding opportunity for Airmen interested in pursuing a new career path.

"It's very important to look into this because this is an Airman's opportunity to retrain into a job they actually want, rather than letting the Air Force decide what they will do," said Roschel. "A lot of Airmen won't volunteer during Phase I and after that, they become a non-volunteer and are subject to mandatory retrain in a job the Air Force selects for them."

Approximately 970 Airmen from nearly three dozen career fields will be affected this year, compared to more than 1,400 last year.

Those Airmen have an opportunity during NCORP Phase I to voluntarily retrain into the undermanned career field of their choice, if they qualify, Clay said.

"The biggest thing to remember, being at an overseas location, if the member is in an overage career field, and their DEROS is after Sept. 30, 2014, they cannot be selected," said Roschel. "But if the DEROS will occur before then, that Airman becomes vulnerable to mandatory retrain during Phase II if they don't volunteer during Phase I.

"The Air Force will absolutely not consider Airmen who volunteer and have a DEROS after Sept. 30, 2014, so those dates are important."

The list of open fields is updated daily, and interested Airmen can access it on the myPers Web site.

Phase II is involuntary and will be implemented if Phase I objectives are not met. During Phase II, AFPC will select the most qualified and vulnerable Airmen for retraining out of overage career fields. Phase II is slated for July 8 to Sept. 8. Airmen who meet retraining eligibility criteria and who are vulnerable for non-voluntary retraining will be notified by their local personnel section in July.

Airmen who volunteer during Phase I will have significantly more options, said Clay.

Undermanned fields include flight engineer, cyberspace defense operations, military working dog handler, at least nine medical fields and more.

"In the past, when Phase I begins, they used to drop a master vulnerability list, naming members in those overage career fields, so that the member will know if they are vulnerable to NCORP," Roschel said. "But this year they are not dropping the list until Phase II begins, so the member may not know they are vulnerable until they have been selected for mandatory retraining as a non-volunteer."

To apply for NCORP retraining, Airmen must be on their second or subsequent enlistment, be a staff sergeant (or staff-select) through master sergeant, and have a minimum 5 skill level in their control Air Force Specialty Code. In addition, staff sergeants must have fewer than 12 years of active service as of Sept. 30, and technical and master sergeants can have no more than 16 years of active service by Sept. 30.

Retraining applicants must have at least 24 months of retainability upon completion of their new career field technical school, as well, Clay said.

"Airmen selected during Phase II for retraining who do not have 24 months of retainability may decline retainability, but will then be ineligible for assignment, promotion and reenlistment," she said.

Roschel emphasized that those interested in volunteering during Phase I must submit packages by July 7.

"The entire application has to be submitted so Airmen need to get out there and do it or they will miss the opportunity to retrain into a job they actually want verses letting the Air Force pick it for you," said Roschel.

For complete eligibility and application information, go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil and enter "Enlisted Retraining" in the search window. The career assistance advisor is available to help at 377-7829.