<p>Air Force Program Budget Decision 720 requires that the Air Force cut personnel strength by 40,000 full-time equivalents over the next five years. </p>
<p>Any thoughts on how this might effect the Academy or opportunities?</p>
<p>None to the zoo. Everything is being done in the next 2 years. ROTC is effected more and there is RIF to officers. Many are being let out ADSCs to be let out.</p>
<p>As a brand new officer (and therefore a potential target for force shaping), I'd say it's just an incentive to not "slide by," as the min may not be good enough.</p>
<p>A number of years ago the army had a Reduction IN Force. They divided the entire officer corps into top, middle, and bottom thirds. Then they riffed the lowest rated officers in each third. Never understood the logic in that.</p>
<p>My understanding is many of the junior officers are being given the opportunity to go Blue to Green (join the Army) and keep rank with some new training. Additionally, I believe pilots are currently immune to RIF?? (maybe something to do with the AF investing too much money to just let you walk away...)</p>
<p>"A number of years ago the army had a Reduction IN Force. They divided the entire officer corps into top, middle, and bottom thirds. Then they riffed the lowest rated officers in each third. Never understood the logic in that."</p>
<p>Yeah I think the Marine Corps does something like this when its officers pick jobs or something...I've heard of this system before...</p>
<p>While pilots aren't really a target for force shaping, the chances of the AF finding a different spot for someone who washed out of pilot training currently are about zero.</p>