The Air Force will hold an enlisted quality force review board May 5-16 to consider airmen for retention who have negative marks on their record, Air Force Personnel Command announced Jan. 3. Such negative indicators include airmen who are awaiting retraining due to disqualification, those awaiting discharge for cause, grade reductions, rank that is not commensurate with years of service, career field skill level that is not commensurate with grade, those who have a suspended Article 15 punishment, or have poor fitness assessments, states the release. The board will consider airmen with less than 18 years or 20 or more years of service as of Dec. 12, 2013, as long as they meet certain criteria. Airmen who have 20 or more years who are not selected for retention must retire by Oct. 1, states the release. Airmen with less than 18 years of service who are not selected for retirement must separate by Sept. 29. Lt. Col. Rick Garcia, AFPC retirements and separations branch chief, noted that airmen must apply for retirement. “It’s not automatically given,” he said.
B-52 Stratofortress bombers marked a new first in Operation Epic Fury when some of the BUFFs flew over Iran carrying JDAM-guided gravity bombs, according to people familiar with the matter. The development signals a weakening of Iranian air defenses and a new use for the venerable bomber in the nearly…