The Air Force plans to hold a board on March 31 to winnow out lieutenants in the 2005 year group that are serving in overage career fields. Exempt from this force-shaping effort are officers in the civil engineer, intelligence, public affairs, and security forces career fields. An Air Force Personnel Center release states that eligible lieutenants may elect to voluntarily separate by applying by March 20. In the crosshairs initially are some 130 lieutenants.
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.