The Air Force is offering voluntary early retirement authority and voluntary separation incentive pay to civilian personnel in an effort to reduce the headquarters staff by 3,459 positions. “The Air Force recognizes the invaluable contributions of our civilian workforce, but also must manage the fiscal constraints under which the Department of Defense is operating,” said Brig. Gen. Brian Kelly, the director of force management policy, in a release. “We are focused on fine tuning the force while taking care to minimize the effect on our current permanent civilian workforce and their families.” Separations in this group would take place almost immediately—interest surveys will be distributed “on or about July 21,” and responses are due by Aug. 1. Separations must be complete “no later than Sep. 30.” Officials expect “at least one more round of civilian workforce management,” states the release.
Unit commanders are being told to separate service members who can’t shave their cheeks and chin for medical reasons for more than a year, according to new guidance from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
