The Air Force is dropping numerous Air Force Specialty Codes from its list of selective reenlistment bonuses, effective Dec. 5, announced the Air Force Personnel Center. Among the 45 codes the service is eliminating are: air traffic control, aircraft structural maintenance, health and medical technicians, in-flight refueling, remotely piloted aircraft sensor operator, and special investigations, according to the center’s Nov. 26 release. The eligibility changes are posturing the Air Force for a smaller force as it adjusts to budget sequestration, said Brig. Gen. Gina Grosso, director of force management policy. “As the force gets smaller, skills that were undermanned are no longer short and we are adjusting the bonus program, accordingly,” she said. Some AFSCs, for which there remain high operational demands and low manning, will still be eligible for SRBs. Among them are: airborne cryptologic language analyst, combat control, cyberspace defense operations, explosive ordnance disposal, and pararescue, according to the release. (Randolph report by Debbie Gildea)
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.