AF to convene CMSgt retention board in June Published Dec. 11, 2013 WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- The Air Force will convene a chief master sergeant retention board in June to select chief master sergeants for retirement no later than Nov. 1, 2014, officials announced today. The fiscal 2014 Chief Master Sergeant Retention Program is one of several force management programs slated to be implemented during fiscal 2014 focused on transitioning to a leaner force, said Chief Master Sgt. Harold Hutchison, of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Management Office. The fiscal 2014 force management programs include multiple programs designed to shape the future force. Additional programs can be found on the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil. "A chief's retention board is new for the Air Force, and there are some understandable concerns," Hutchison said. "Our sister services have successfully executed similar programs for years, and we are working closely with experts throughout the Department of Defense to ensure we implement deliberate processes." The chief retention program will include two phases. During phase one, chiefs in specific career fields may apply for voluntary retirement in lieu of meeting a retention board. Applications will be accepted through March 15, 2014, and active-duty service commitment waivers will be considered on a case-by-case basis, according to Senior Master Sgt. Lisa Smith, of the Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Management Office. Chiefs with 20 years of total active federal military service from identified overage career fields who do not apply for retirement before the phase one window closes March 15, 2014 will be considered by the board during the second phase, Smith said. Chiefs approved for retirement under phase one must retire no later than Jan. 1, 2015, while chiefs selected for retirement by the June retention board will be required to retire no later than Nov. 1, 2014. For more information about the Chief Master Sergeant Retention Program, including eligibility criteria and application instructions, go to the myPers website. Enter "chief retention" in the search window. (Courtesy of Air Force Public Affairs Agency, Operating Location - Pentagon)