The Army has announced a new program which affects active duty enlisted Soldiers with more than 3 years but less than 71 months of service, according to an article in the Stars & Stripes.

Under the new program, Soldiers who have fewer than 180 days left on their enlistment will be given a choice when their units deploy: They will be offered incentives to complete the deployment or be involuntarily separated up to 90 days prior to the end of their enlistment. According to the article, other than their regular pay and allowances, soldiers who are subject to the involuntary discharge will not lose any rights or benefits they would have received if allowed to complete their tours of duty, the message states. Furthermore, unearned portions of enlistment or re-enlistment bonuses will not be recouped. This program is being implemented because the Army has decided to end its active duty STOP-LOSS program, effective January 1.

Just when you thought the "down-sizing was over, the Air Force has announced that it needs to cut around 3,700 enlisted airmen and officers in 2010 and 2011.

The cuts are necessary due to better-than-expected re-enlistment and retention rates, according to officials. Targeted for the down-sizing will be enlisted folks with more than 20 years of service, and those with less than 14 years of service. Among officers, the Air Force will implement programs for the early retirement of selected Lieutenant Colonels (O-5) and Colonels (O-6).

Beginning Jan. 1, all master sergeants must complete the 6½ week resident Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy before they are promoted to senior master sergeant (E-8), according to an Air Force Times article.

Before this policy change, completion of the Senior NCO Academy, at Air University at Maxwell-Gunter Air Force Base, Ala., was required only before promotion to chief master sergeant (E-9).

The Department of Defense has released its recruiting statistics for the month of October 2009. All of the military branches are off to a strong start in this brand new fiscal year (a "fiscal year" runs from October 1 to September 30).