Service commitment release available for eligible ROTC cadets, newly commissioned grads Published Dec. 4, 2013 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets slated to graduate in 2014 and recently commissioned graduates in the Individual Ready Reserve waiting to enter active duty may be eligible for release from their military service commitment, Air Force officials said today. Cadets and recent graduates classified into the following fields may apply: 13M Airfield Operations 13N Nuclear and Missile Operations 14N Intelligence 17D Cyberspace Operations 21A Aircraft Maintenance 21M Munitions and Missile Maintenance 21R Logistics Readiness 31P Security Forces 35P Public Affairs 38P Personnel 63A Acquisition 64P Contracting The decision to offer voluntary release from ROTC-incurred commitments is part of the effort to align our policies and programs to a future force that is projected to be smaller and leaner, said Lt. Col. Jonelle Eychner, Air Force officer accessions and training branch chief. Although ROTC applicants approved for the program will no longer receive their monthly stipend beginning March 1, the Air Force will not seek scholarship or stipend recoupment in exchange for release from their service commitment. The Air Force is also encouraging the recent ROTC graduates who are waiting to enter active duty in the skills listed above to look instead for Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve opportunities to associate in a variety of skills. ROTC is not the only officer accessions program affected. "We have also reduced Officer Training School where possible to ease the impact on ROTC," Eychner explained. "But we can't cut any deeper into OTS production without harming our ability to fill specific technical career fields." Eligible cadets and IRR officers can apply for release Jan. 6-24, 2014. Applicants will be notified of their request status, and on Feb. 28 approved officers will be officially separated from service and approved cadets will be disenrolled from ROTC without any further obligations. Interested cadets should contact their ROTC detachment for eligibility and application information. Interested IRR officers should contact the AFPC accessions office at 210-565-2275.