“In Phase II, we have more flexibility in managing each (career field) by year group than we had in Phase I,” General Speigel said. “We will consider applications according to the manning health of the member’s specialty by both the year group and the grade (for officers) or skill level (for enlisted).”
Because of this change, a greater percentage of applications will be approved in Phase II, officials said.
Additionally, as part of Phase II, enlisted accessions will drop by about 11,000 to reach authorized end-strength levels by the end of fiscal 2005. Thus, about 24,000 new recruits will join the Air Force rather than 35,000 as originally planned, officials said.
“This accession cut would occur for one year only,” said Maj. Gen. Peter U. Sutton, director of learning and force development at the Pentagon. “Then we will resume normal accession rates.”
