TOKYO — Most overseas Air Force assignments shouldn’t be affected by a new policy that extends routine stateside assignments from three to four years, according to the office that sets policy for official moves.
Last fall, the Air Force announced it would lengthen stateside assignments by 12 months, one of several changes meant to stave off a $300 million projected shortfall in the branch’s annual moving budget, according to the Directorate of Airmen Development and Sustainment.
Earlier this month, U.S. Forces Japan commander Lt. Gen. Bruce Wright said the policy change could affect assignments in Japan. “Air Force members should stay in close touch with their chain of command because it could change,” he said in a news conference. “This may be a great opportunity for some airmen to stay in Japan a little longer, but the needs of the Air Force come first.”
But current overseas assignments should rotate as planned, Maj. Debra Lovette, the chief for assignments policy at the directorate, told Stars and Stripes last week.
Replacements of overseas positions, however, will slow slightly, another change put in place this fall to stem the projected shortfall in the Air Force’s $1 billion budget for “permanent change of station” moves, Lovette said.
Replacements for most Air Force jobs will come only when the roster for that skill falls below 90 percent, Lovette said. Stateside, empty slots will be filled when the vacancies dip below 85 percent. Assignments in South Korea will continue to be filled at 100 percent, according to the military. The budget squeeze comes as the Air Force works to cut 40,000 personnel by 2009, including about 8,000 officers through September. Rising fuel prices also have driven the costs up, Lovette said.
Lovette said the changes shouldn’t hinder individual career paths or affect the Air Force’s overall mission requirements. Other changes include lengthening the join-spouse program from 12 to 24 months. The program works to station married airmen together.
Permissive moves, where the command approves the assignment for married airmen but not the cost of moving, will still be allowed.
