The Air Force last week began Phase II of its noncommissioned officer retraining program, giving airmen identified for retraining until April 6 to submit a request to retrain and April 29 to follow with a retraining package. The service has identified more than 100 NCOs that it wants to move into a new career field to put them “where they are needed most,” said MSgt. Deitra Mathis, enlisted retraining superintendent at the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph AFB, Tex. If the NCOs on the involuntary retraining list do not meet the April 29 deadline, the Air Force plans to separate them from the service. Air Force officials have said that despite plans to increase end strength, they must continue to shape the force, principally shifting airmen to chronically short fields. (AFPC report)
Air Force F-16 pilots are testing out new sensors that could help maximize their performance and avoid deadly accidents while flying fast fighter jets under heavy G-forces and stressful conditions.