<p>Is there anything you can say about the recently announced cutbacks of the airforce (to 86 active wings; 320k airmen by 2011)? How do you think this will impact you and the classes coming behind you? How concerned should Cadets be?</p>
<p>As a recent ('06) grad, here's my two cents:</p>
<p>I don't think the force shaping should make people paranoid, but I do think it is definitely worth being aware of. Some AFSCs (career areas) are being cut back more than others. As far as I know, rated slots (fliers) are least at risk. However, people who wash out of pilot/nav training (or decide they don't want to pursue that path after they get a slot) are a lot more likely to just get removed from the Air Force than put in a different area. I know a couple people who've been affected by this, although since every situation is slightly different, I don't claim to generalize everything by the few instances I know about. This concept isn't new to the Air Force, but I do think this is serving as a reality check for current people who could potentially be affected. It's a realization that just because you make it through the Academy (or any commissioning source) does not automatically mean you have a "guaranteed" job indefinitely. Everything that's done is looked at, and a failure to uphold standards or a bad decision could end a career; while this is true even when there aren't massive cutbacks, I think it is emphasized even more now.</p>
<p>One of the officers in command at summer seminar said that with the air force cutbacks, it was a possibility that retirement would be bumped down to 15 years from 20. Is this just a rumor or is/was it being considered?</p>
<p>The number of slots open for each incoming class at USAFA wouldn't be reduced, would it? Gosh, I hope not...</p>
<p>Force shaping has happen several times during the last 25 years. They use carrots to get people out, release of ADSC for ROTC and USAFA. People who have been in awhile are being offered lump sums to leave. </p>
<p>Also they have asked for volunteers to retire, so the can get rid of O-6s. They are trying to elminate 30 O-7s.</p>
<p>The grand affect will be fewer OTC slots (most going to enlisted that have BA/BS) and fewer ROTC slots. Went to big state school this past spring break and they told me fewer of their students were being offered contracts.</p>
<p>There should not be fewer USAFA cadets, there are fixed cost to run place. Just means there will be more AFA grads as officers as a percentage of the officer corps.</p>
<p>When I have time I will go into class of 1994 and force shapping.</p>
<p>Thanks afa81 (and Uncynical); that's helpful. What is "...release of ADSC for ROTC and USAFA." Not familiar with ADSC acronym.</p>
<p>ADSC--Active Duty Service Commitment</p>
<p>5 years for graduating from AFA
10 years for pilot training
1 year for a PCS move
2/3 years from PME (SOS/ACSC/War College)
Pilot Bonus--your first born son *just kidding</p>
<p>These are examples of ADSC you will get through out your career. </p>
<p>To the subject of the class of '94...They were already in their 2nd class year, when the AF powers that be "believed" the AF was producing TOO MANY PILOTS. This class slots were halved. They were already committed-- '94 was pretty peeved.</p>
<p>These are refered to the the bath tub years in pilot production. Many pilots were banked even if they got to go, they went to pilot training then became supply officers, transportation officers and other AFSC that did not require a lot of training.</p>
<p>OUCH -- glad to see you were NOT in the class of 94! The AF has really used pilot opportunity as a way to "sell" the academy. Hope that we won't see a "bait and switch" as a result of force shaping. Uncynical's post would suggest that that is probably not the case this time around.</p>
<p>I can honestly only really speak for my class when it comes to pilot slots. It is <em>possible</em> that classes behind mine could have fewer pilot slots and/or get them "taken away" after being told they have them, however, I have no clue what the chances of that happening would be. There are a lot of factors that go into that and I'm not even going to try to pretend I know enough to make a speculation on this.</p>
<p>If you're at the Academy now (plan on being there in the future), just use the little information you have on this as an added incentive to do well. If it comes down to it, people who are ranked higher and have more to show will be more likely to get a pilot slot (or whatever else they want as a first choice) than someone who slides through with the minimums.</p>
<p>The AF now knows what a mistake it made in the bath tub years. I don't see them doing that again, but it is the AF. </p>
<p>My memory is foggy on the '94, I do remember that they were offer the chance to walk away, but they had to repay for the years of education. A few took the offer, many really thought they had a chance at a slot. Including a cadet we hosted, he didn't get a slot. He was very disappointed, but he knew he got a great education.</p>