NCO retraining application window open through Oct. 9 Published Sept. 8, 2015 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- Eligible noncommissioned officers have through Oct. 9 to apply for retraining under Phase I of the Fiscal Year 2016 NCO Retraining Program, implemented Aug. 31. The two-phase program is used to balance and sustain the enlisted force, said Master Sgt. Christine Ward, Air Force Personnel Center Enlisted Skills Management Branch superintendent. Phase I allows eligible Airmen to volunteer for another career field. During Phase I hundreds of eligible staff sergeant-selects through master sergeants in identified fields will be able to voluntarily apply for retraining into one of approximately two dozen open fields this year, Ward said. The list, available in the myPers enlisted retraining advisory, is updated in real-time. The advisory identifies fields that people can train out of, and fields that Airmen can train into (see "Type" column in the advisory). If retraining objectives are not met through the voluntary phase then a mandatory retraining phase - Phase II - may become necessary. Phase II is scheduled for Oct. 12-Nov. 13. Airmen who may be considered for mandatory retraining and who meet retraining eligibility criteria will be notified. To apply for NCORP retraining, Airmen must be on their second or subsequent enlistment, be a staff sergeant (or staff sergeant-select) through master sergeant, and have a minimum 5 skill level in their control Air Force Specialty Code (or a 3 skill level, for those AFSCs where a 5 level does not exist). In addition, staff sergeants must have fewer than 12 years of active service as of Sept. 30, and technical and master sergeants may have no more than 16 years of active service by Sept. 30. Retraining applicants must have or be able to obtain at least 24 months of retainability upon completion of their new career field technical school, as well, Ward said. Retraining information is available on the myPers retraining page. In addition, a live chat feature is available for Airmen on the NCO Retraining Program page. To chat live with a Total Force Service Center representative, go to the page and allow about a 30 to 60 seconds to enable a representative to come on line. For more information about Air Force personnel programs go to the myPers website. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website.