Minot officers receive force- shaping facts

  • Published
  • By Maj. Elizabeth Ortiz
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  Officers assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing learned the latest information about force shaping recently during a briefing at the base theater. 

To meet its end strength, the Air Force is planning to "shape" career field imbalances and reduce the force by approximately 40,000 members over the next several years. 

While the enlisted corps is on track for the planned reduction, there are overages in the officer corps. 

"It's going to be a loss for the Air Force," said Col. Eldon Woodie, 5th BW commander, who briefed the officers Aug. 17. "I understand there'll be some hard feelings." 

During the briefing, Colonel Woodie highlighted several force-shaping tools, including voluntary separation, selective early retirement board and force-shaping board. At Minot AFB, almost 110 officers are affected by force shaping. 

"They're going to get our support - 100 percent," Colonel Woodie said. 

Part of the base's game plan is to make sure people are comfortable with available information. This will be done through targeted briefings and one-one-counseling with service agencies like finance, military personnel flight, education center, family support, traffic and management and transition assistance. 

"When I know about things, I'm going to give them to you," Colonel Woodie pledged to the officers present. 

For more information on force shaping, logon to www.afpc.randolph.af.mil and click on "Force Shaping." 

"As we shape the force, officers in the affected year groups should prepare themselves," said Maj. Joseph Ogea, 5th Mission Support Squadron commander. "They need to take advantage of the briefings offered and transition services available."