TOWN HALL MEETING MAY 1 The purpose of this feedback is to provide a record of questions asked during the initial town hall meeting to be considered as changes are implemented throughout the wing, and also to provide questions for the remaining town hall meetings should they be needed. Question: Will the slides be on the Facebook page and Dyess website? Answer: (Col Starr) · Yes. · The slides will be both on the Facebook page as well as the Dyess website. Question: For the Airmen who are being forced out, Can they retrain or reclassify into a career field that is undermanned? Answer: (Col Starr) · No. · Because the way the process is set up by the time they get to that point in the process, it's too late. Question: Is there anything you can do to help their situation out? Answer: (Col Starr and Capt. McWhirter) · One of the things you can do is take advantage of the Transition Assistance Program. The program is used to help make sure Airmen are equipped and ready for life outside of the Air Force. Also, Airmen who are in the involuntary phase have the opportunity to request to go into the guard or reserve. The option is called Palace Chase or Palace Front. It won't guarantee a guard or reserve spot, but will be a possibility for retaining, depending on what is needed. Question: Is it really cost effective to kick out someone who has been trained in a career field and hire new recruits? These recruits are going through basic training, schooling, and the Air Force is just hiring new people. Answer: (Col Starr) · We are restricting our accessions partially in order to get some of these numbers lowered. It's a 6 percent reduction this year and estimated to go up to a 15 percent reduction next year. It may not sound like a lot but it squeezes us, because we still need to keep that pipe line going. It is a good point that we are investing in bringing new people into the program, but we can't totally close off the pipe line. It creates more problems for us two or three years down the road when we don't have newly experienced people in the military. Question: How are you determining the service commitment waivers? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) and Air Staff decide on those waivers, what amount of time they will waive when an applicant is determined eligible. Question: Why are some of the people in charge of the program due to also separate? Answer: (Lt Col Welcome) · There are so many people who are eligible for the program. There isn't a group that hasn't been affected. Question: We see the force is reducing, but is the mission staying the same? Answer: (Col Starr) · Commanders at all levels are working on that. We are working into figuring out what we need to cut out of our budgets and what we can do without. Question: We just had a group of depolyers come home in January. Some Active Duty members are tasked to go again. What support is there for spouses? Answer: (Col Starr) · We are focusing our resources on helping spouses while their member is deployed. We've taken so much away that I want to give something back to the families, like the base pool. Question: Has AFPC changed how airmen will be notified on their involuntary separation? Voluntary separations are getting emails but that doesn't seem appropriate. Answer: (Col Starr) · ACC and APFC are working to let wing commanders know first so we may inform the airmen appropriately, but a plan has not been set in place. Question: As a relocating spouse, what transition assistance services are available to help me find employment at our new location? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · There is the Virtual Curriculum in Transition GPS classes you take with your spouse http://tinyurl.com/kx8d478 · Answer: Take advantage of (Military Spouse Employment Partnership) http://tinyurl.com/ln65fmw up to 6 months after your spouse separation date. · Answer: Check out your new state on American Job Centers for veterans and family employment assistance http://jobcenter.usa.gov/ Question: How is the Air Force going to help transition Airmen out of the Air Force? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · A&FRC (Airman & Family Readiness Center) offers the congressionally mandated Transition Assistance Program (TAP) or Transition Goals Plans Success (GPS) · New TAP is better than ever! 4 core blocks & 3 in depth tracks prep you for education, training or entrepreneurship Question: My spouse has prepared for this transition and has landed an excellent job. Does he/she have to take all this TAP stuff? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · Pre-separation counseling, Capstone and Veterans Affairs briefings are required, but proof of employment can exempt them from TAP/GPS Question: I'm a stay-at-home-mom so I can't make it to the TAP workshop, is there a way I can participate in the TAP/GPS workshop? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · Yes, all TAP workshops have a virtual option. Your spouse can set up access for you or visit your local A&FRC Question: Do Airmen and their families receive any benefits beyond their separation dates? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · TERA (temporary early retirement authority) and SERB (selective early retirement boards) members receive all retirement benefits. Answer: Involuntary separation benefits include 180 days medical, two years BX (Base Exchange)/Commissary, PTDY (permissive temporary duty), NAF (Numbered Air Force) hiring preferences and more. Question: Is everyone separating eligible for 20 days CONUS and 30 days OCONUS permissive TDY for house/job hunting? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · Members who retire or are under VSP (voluntary separation program), involuntary separation or separate in lieu of meeting a retention board are eligible for PTDY Question: Will individuals selected for involuntary separation or retirement have to repay Transfer of Education Benefits (TEB) to family? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · No repayment needed for most members selected to involuntary separation/retire under the Fiscal Year 2014 FM (force management) -visit http://tinyurl.com/l4wzok5 Question: My spouse may apply for VSP-is there 180-day Tricare coverage and two-years of commissary privileges as part of the VSP benefits? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · No. · The extended benefits are only for involuntary separation. They are not authorized for those who voluntarily separate. Question: Can key spouses receive information on the links mentioned and share at their squadrons? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · Key spouses should visit A&FRC to gather information on these sources and share with squadrons. Question: Will civilian resources or liaisons be available for separating EFMP (Exceptional Family Member Program) families? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · It's important for spouses to attend TAP briefing along with the military member to get that tailored information. Question: Who is helping spouses with licensure transfers after relocation? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · MSEP jobs and Joining Forces are partnering on license portability. Question: What is a board? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · The involuntary boards will be conducted at Randolph AFB, TX. Each individual record and recommendation will be carefully considered and compared against other records on the same board. Question: How does my spouse know if s/he is meeting a board? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · Eligible members for each program should have received notification from HQ AFPC and or their Squadron Commander. Question: Is there any way to look up the roster (i.e. ERB) to see what jobs are affected by the programs? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · Yes, your spouse is able to view these matrixes online via AFPC's mypers website. Question: If member is deployed and unable to test prior to the board meeting, will they be removed from the roster once they return, and test supplemental and find out they make it? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · No. · The member will not be removed from the listing (QFRB/ERB) unless they get a promotion line number. Question: For members who are currently deployed, how are they affected with the boards? Are they at a disadvantage because they are deployed and not getting the information? (Missing briefings, mandatory appointments [TAPS], unable to look for jobs, apply for guard/reserve like others who are at home station) Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · All available information is online at AFPC's mypers website. If a member feels that they are not getting enough information, they can reach out to their home station chain of command/MPS for assistance Question: In regards to leave, will they adjust the approved Date of Separation to accommodate the excess leave that members have? Answer: (Capt. McWhirter) · No. · AFPC will not adjust Date of Separation. Members will be allowed to sell any excess leave that they are unable to take prior to their Date of Separation.