FY 14 Force Management Program (RIF, VSP, TERA)

[Sierra Hotel]

PSDM 14-08 Says "Through 1 May" and then something about "After the window closes on 1 May". My assumption after re-reading the PSDM, is that 2 May is the start of the processing time. Either way, AFPC has had 4 f-ing months to get their crap together and have yet to show any effort on meeting a deadline. Good luck to all of you when we find out in June...

"May the odds be ever in your favor...and mine"

'05 11M

[treetop07]

Palace Chase Approved

2007

11M

4.5 year ADSC

App submitted 8 April to vMPF, so about 3/4 weeks to get a response.

[MooseAg03]

Palace Chase Approved

2007

11M

4.5 year ADSC

App submitted 8 April to vMPF, so about 3/4 weeks to get a response.

There's your reason for the months long delay in releasing VSP answers. They were betting on people losing faith in VSP for early separation and going the Palace Chase route instead. I don't know about you guys, but I've never seen someone get PC approval in less than a month especially with 4.5 years of UPT ADSC remaining.

[toomanyquestions]

There's your reason for the months long delay in releasing VSP answers. They were betting on people losing faith in VSP for early separation and going the Palace Chase route instead. I don't know about you guys, but I've never seen someone get PC approval in less than a month especially with 4.5 years of UPT ADSC remaining.

looks like the af realized they had too many rated guys jumping at the vsp option...and they really wanted them to go in the ARC (hence the expanded palace chase authority after the vsp window opened)...to make it worse...there will no doubt be guys who will get denied vsp because palace chase guys jumped in front of them after vsp applications were submitted...but given the option I'm sure that many of the same folks who applied for vsp would take palace chase if offered...this only confirms that there was really no need to wait until 1 may to adjudicate...that was an excuse to keep us all on the hook while they could reduce the number of vsp applications that might be approved...people/family first...sure

[treetop07]

There's your reason for the months long delay in releasing VSP answers. They were betting on people losing faith in VSP for early separation and going the Palace Chase route instead. I don't know about you guys, but I've never seen someone get PC approval in less than a month especially with 4.5 years of UPT ADSC remaining.

I never had faith in the VSP. It's a lottery that nobody knows the rules to. Would it be nice to take the VSP money and go to my guard job? Yah sure. However if you apply logic (very dangerous to do) to AFPCs mentality, it would seem that transferring someone to the Guard would be a better business decision than paying them and losing 100% of the investment.

I do think the big cuts will be through VSP and they will fine tune the numbers with Palace Chase (as it goes out to 1 July I think). I do worry for the guys who think PC will be available to them after VSP though as the matrix will probably turn red very fast.

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[hindsight2020]

I never had faith in the VSP. It's a lottery that nobody knows the rules to. Would it be nice to take the VSP money and go to my guard job? Yah sure. However if you apply logic (very dangerous to do) to AFPCs mentality, it would seem that transferring someone to the Guard would be a better business decision than paying them and losing 100% of the investment.

I do think the big cuts will be through VSP and they will fine tune the numbers with Palace Chase (as it goes out to 1 July I think). I do worry for the guys who think PC will be available to them after VSP though as the matrix will probably turn red very fast.

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Exactly. You played the hand the same way I would have.Early bird gets the worm, and a preemptive PC application worked in this case. By the time these guys get around to submitting their plan B PC application all they'll have in the matrix is a big red middle finger. Game's Chess, it ain't checkers.

[Fresh]

I never had faith in the VSP. It's a lottery that nobody knows the rules to. Would it be nice to take the VSP money and go to my guard job? Yah sure. However if you apply logic (very dangerous to do) to AFPCs mentality, it would seem that transferring someone to the Guard would be a better business decision than paying them and losing 100% of the investment.

I do think the big cuts will be through VSP and they will fine tune the numbers with Palace Chase (as it goes out to 1 July I think). I do worry for the guys who think PC will be available to them after VSP though as the matrix will probably turn red very fast.

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Same thought process I had...PC approved with 5 years UPT ADSC left at DOS.

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[tunes]

If they had made PC eligible for people deployed my vsp app would have been recalled a long time ago...but recalling it when returning from deployment 3 weeks before the window closed for vsp didn't make much sense.

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Edited May 1, 2014 by tunes

[chim richalds]

I agree with everything said. I have a guard job lined up so i was open to either idea. You would think it would be as simple as saying we have a lot more wiggle room to Palace chase, so we prefer you go that route. Instead they challenge everybody to read between the lines and try to guess what these people are thinking. Just tell me the easiest way to get out of here please and I'll do it.

[Nasty2004]

I do worry for the guys who think PC will be available to them after VSP though as the matrix will probably turn red very fast.

This a catch-22. If several applicants get their VSP denied to try to encourage Palace Chase applications, the matrix won't go red early. If the matrix goes red early, then a lot of VSP applications are being approved. I definitely would've gone the Palace Chase route had they said that they would definitely give preference to that over VSP. As it was, I would've had to pull my VSP application to apply for Palace Chase, and that didn't seem like a wise move given the fact that AFPC has been consistently opaque about the selection process. Now, almost three months after my app, they say that order of application has no bearing on selection, but this way I at least have a shot at both. It's no wonder the AFPC patch is a guy shooting himself in the head.

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[Mish_Hacker]

It would have been smarter for AFPC to execute this in a graduated manner. Announce a 3-step voluntary process with distinct application windows: Expanded PC, ADSC Waiver, and then VSP. Expanded Palace Chase (1 to 1) only for the first month. Pause for a week and process applications. Release a new matrix (preferably one with numbers vice colors). Open the ADSC Waiver window for a month; you get out of your commitment, but no separation pay. Pause and process. Release new matrix. Now open the VSP window for a month. Pause and process. Release new matrix. Announce the RIF eligible year group/AFSC and offer one last chance to VSP for those who get their RRF and realize that they are #69/69 in the group because they deployed 7 times instead of finishing that last Master's class. Now use the RIF to meet your final manning targets.

This way, the most motivated people to get out will go first. As long as you announce the plan early (and then stick to it), people will have more time to plan and I think it would be a more equitable process. Transparency would help too...

[Herk Driver]

Now, almost three months after my app, they say that order of application has no bearing on selection, but this way I at least have a shot at both. It's no wonder the AFPC patch is a guy shooting himself in the head.

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Didn't the original message say that it was not first come, first serve?

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[FUSEPLUG]

Didn't the original message say that it was not first come, first serve?

Hahahaha... Ha! The original message said a lot of things. Few of which have held any water.

[FLY6584]

It would have been smarter for AFPC to execute this in a graduated manner. Announce a 3-step voluntary process with distinct application windows: Expanded PC, ADSC Waiver, and then VSP. Expanded Palace Chase (1 to 1) only for the first month. Pause for a week and process applications. Release a new matrix (preferably one with numbers vice colors). Open the ADSC Waiver window for a month; you get out of your commitment, but no separation pay. Pause and process. Release new matrix. Now open the VSP window for a month. Pause and process. Release new matrix. Announce the RIF eligible year group/AFSC and offer one last chance to VSP for those who get their RRF and realize that they are #69/69 in the group because they deployed 7 times instead of finishing that last Master's class. Now use the RIF to meet your final manning targets.

This way, the most motivated people to get out will go first. As long as you announce the plan early (and then stick to it), people will have more time to plan and I think it would be a more equitable process. Transparency would help too...

Could not have said it better myself. Why can't the folks that are supposed to be subject matter experts at this come up with a simple effective plan like this that is cost effective for the Air Force and fair to it's members? It's so hard to believe that an organization can be as incompetent and useless as much as AFPC is. When this debacle is over these individuals need to meet the equivalent of an FEB and those that have conjured up the financial loss equivalent of a Class A mishap need to be fired.

If we can be fired for poor judgement that leads to the loss of millions of dollars then these people need to be held to the same standard!

Edited May 2, 2014 by FLY6584

[Herk Driver]

Hahahaha... Ha! The original message said a lot of things. Few of which have held any water.

Agreed and being surprised that part of it was true is a normal response, however credibility drops when one makes it sound like this is the first one has heard of it not being first come, first serve. Maybe I misread the intent...I just don't think you can have it both ways; either way just an observation

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Edited May 2, 2014 by Herk Driver

[Nasty2004]

Didn't the original message say that it was not first come, first serve?

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Yes, with the caveat that there would be monthly batch processing and that eligible year groups/AFSCs would be closed out as the batches were processed, so you were encouraged to apply early. That statement implied that earlier was better if you hoped to be approved. That changed to the "not first come, first served" with no caveats that we have now.

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[Dubs]

Midnight CDT!

I'm guessing the window is now officially closed... good luck to all VSP'ers who are still waiting to hear word on their applications!

[Sierra Hotel]

Talked to the Total Farse Service Center just after midnight CST (deployed)... Asked about updated VSP adjudication timelines and the dude just read me the standard response of "no later than mid-may". Let's see if AFPC's definition of mid-May (NLT 31 Dec) = my definition of mid-May (NLT 15 May). Good Luck

-SH

[Mish_Hacker]

Talked to the Total Farse Service Center just after midnight CST (deployed)... Asked about updated VSP adjudication timelines and the dude just read me the standard response of "no later than mid-may". Let's see if AFPC's definition of mid-May (NLT 31 Dec) = my definition of mid-May (NLT 15 May). Good Luck

-SH

Also note the information on the website (legit? Who the F knows?). It say notification of approvals and disapprovals will be accomplished no later than "approximately 10 May." Whether that date holds any relevance or can be interpreted as "mid-May", who the F knows? One thing is certain, though, is that this is the softest deadline ever. Who says my deadline is approximate? More of a target, than deadline in my book...

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[Nasty2004]

No one heard anything today?

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[Mish_Hacker]

I heard (this is second-hand) that two '06 11Bs from Ellsworth got disapproved yesterday (somehow); notification was from their commander. One '06 11B was approved for PALACE CHASE. The VSP applicants are currently deployed.

A call to the TFSC today reiterated that applications are still in process and will be approved/disapproved by the middle of May. Not sure if that means approximately 10 May or 15 May...

[FlyFox]

Let me start with the fact that this is purely my guess but...since AFPC clearly doesn't work on the weekends and they said "approximately 10 days after the window closes" if you count 10 business days starting today the tenth day is 15 May. So mid may and 10 days seems to be the same date, just throwing this out there.

[Mish_Hacker]

Let me start with the fact that this is purely my guess but...since AFPC clearly doesn't work on the weekends and they said "approximately 10 days after the window closes" if you count 10 business days starting today the tenth day is 15 May. So mid may and 10 days seems to be the same date, just throwing this out there.

BOOM - Mind blown...

[FBomb]

Is anyone able to check MyPers to see if the new RIF slides were posted as has been promised in the last two "Pulse on Force Management" articles? The AF portal and MyPers are down for non-.mil domain users currently.

[tunes]

I really don't think there will be a rated RIF

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