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Air Force’s Enlisted Swap Assignment Program Starts June 1

MAY 26, 2023 – Announced at the September 2022 Air and Space Forces Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, the Air Force Enlisted Swap Assignment Program goes live June 1 for senior master sergeants and below with a current assignment. This new policy provides Airmen with more control and new flexibilities in their assignment process.

The Air Force Enlisted Assignment Working Group, which was charged with holistically reviewing the enlisted assignment program, recommended the program. This program applies only to Airmen, as the Space Force continues to explore flexible and tailored assignment options for Guardians.

Through the MyVector discussion forum, Airmen will be able to post their assignments and leverage discussions to determine interest in swapping assignments. Currently, Airmen will be able to apply through the My Application link on MyVector.

“The program application on MyVector isn’t perfect, but it will evolve throughout the year,” said Alex Wagner, assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. “We understand the frustrations with our IT infrastructure, which is why it’s important for you to provide feedback to the team to make them better.”

Airmen must initiate assignment swaps within 90 days from their assignment selection date. Additionally, both Airmen cannot have any adverse quality force indicators and must possess the same permanent change of station eligibility, such as time on station, tour length and retainability.

Airmen must also be in the same career field with the same:

• Control Air Force Specialty Code
• Skill level
• Grade or projected grade
• Special Experience Identifier (as required)
• Vector (as required)
• Security Clearance (as required)

Once the application is submitted, it will flow to the Air Force Personnel Center for eligibility checks, consideration and processing. Applicants will be notified of approval/disapproval through MyVector.

“We aren’t waiting for the perfect system to be built and I’m glad to see this program come to fruition,” said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass. “Just like our recent policy change authorizing retraining, this is one of the many initiatives we are rolling out to ensure we are able to retrain the talent we need on the bench,” Bass said. “Building the force of the future requires us to look at our personnel policies and balance them with an integrated approach to ensure we maintain the highest standards of readiness.”

Airmen are advised to only use the MyVector discussion forum to arrange assignment swaps and are reminded not to use open online spaces to post assignment information, personal contact and other sensitive confidential information to maintain operational security.

AFPC will provide an updated Personnel Services Delivery Guide identifying program procedures, which will be available in myFSS.

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Air Force Resurrects Assignment Swap Program for Enlisted Ranks

Enlisted airmen will be able to swap assignments under a new program launching next month, offering some service members flexibility on where they're stationed across the country and what roles they're given.

The Air Force Enlisted Swap Assignment Program, which becomes available June 1 for airmen, will allow senior master sergeants and below to discuss and search for roles that may be available to trade.

It's the latest quality-of-life issue the service has tackled as it reworks numerous policies amid a historic recruiting crisis. Earlier this month, the Air Force announced another policy that would give airmen who just joined the military a chance to retrain into another job as a way to keep them from leaving the service.

Read Next: A Soldier Attempted Suicide in Poland. Left to Roam at Fort Riley, He Killed Himself.

"Just like our recent policy change authorizing retraining, this is one of the many initiatives we are rolling out to ensure we are able to retrain the talent we need on the bench," Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass said in a press release. "Building the force of the future requires us to look at our personnel policies and balance them with an integrated approach to ensure we maintain the highest standards of readiness."

The new swap program starting next month was first pitched by Bass, the service's senior enlisted leader, at the Air and Space Force Association's Air, Space and Cyber conference in September.

Details of the program were vague when first pitched last year, and specifics have now been ironed out ahead of the launch next month.

The Air Force Enlisted Swap Assignment Program is available to senior master sergeants and below who can find a match for the same career field with the same Control Air Force Specialty Code; skill level; grade or projected grade; special experience identifier, as required; vector, as required; and security clearance, as required.

Airmen must start the swaps within 90 days from their assignment selection date. They can't have adverse quality force indicators and "must possess the same permanent change-of-station eligibility, such as time on station, tour length and retainability," a press release detailing the June 1 start date said .

The service had a similar version of an assignment swap program in the past.

An Air Force press release from 2007 first informed service members they would need to look for fellow qualified airmen in the continental U.S. whom they could switch with. The switch would, ultimately, have to be approved by commanders.

But a decade later, the program was shut down, according to a 2017 Facebook post from the Air Force Personnel Center . Officials said the program was being underutilized and favored airmen with larger paychecks.

"It was found that less than 5% of airmen were taking advantage of this program, and it was ultimately deemed unfair," the 2017 post from the Air Force Personnel Center announcing the change read. "With the burden of expenses for moving locations falling on the airman, some airmen of higher rank could afford the move, while some younger airmen could not."

To make swapping assignments more financially equitable, the new policy "will not require airmen to pay for their relocations," according to a memo detailing the guidelines .

When the previous program was in place, airmen used blogs and even newspaper ads to market career swaps.

In the press release announcing the new program start date, officials told airmen they "are reminded not to use open online spaces to post assignment information, personal contact and other sensitive confidential information to maintain operational security."

The Air Force is using its internal MyVector discussion forum to post about potential assignment swaps, though the service admitted in its press release that the system has frequent issues.

"The program application on MyVector isn't perfect, but it will evolve throughout the year," Alex Wagner, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, said in the press release.

Airmen can apply for swaps through the "My Application link" on MyVector, according to the release.

"We aren't waiting for the perfect system to be built, and I'm glad to see this program come to fruition," Bass said.

The release of the new swap program comes after the Air Force barely met its active-duty recruiting goals last year and has pivoted to fixing numerous quality-of-life issues and barriers to serving in the military through policy changes.

This past March, the service was projecting a 10% shortfall for this year -- the equivalent of around 5,000 people, nearly the total of all the airmen at the 366th Fighter Wing stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base , Idaho.

The Air Force Recruiting Service has pointed to numerous headwinds that have made it hard to bring in new members, such as low unemployment. Additionally, the Pentagon has released recent studies showing that only 23% of U.S. youth are eligible to serve right now, due to obesity and other issues.

-- Thomas Novelly can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly.

Related: Some Airmen Will Be Allowed to Swap Base Assignments Again

Thomas Novelly

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Unofficial Enlisted Talent Marketplace Update - 1N Assignments

So it looks like the intel folks are starting out with the Enlisted Talent Marketplace on myVector. And they are working on the next set of moves, Jan to Jun 2023. It looks like ETM has 2 cycles per year, rather than 4 like AMS does. Not all the 1Ns are moving to this just yet, most except for 1N0 and 1N3.

Many folks were informed that they are on the Vulnerable Movers List (VML) for this upcoming cycle via an email from myvector. If so they were told to go to myvector and "update" their profile. Specifically this part is to determine if they actually belong on the VML for this cycle, and if anyone should be taken off it goes through the unit SEL to the assignments team. Or something like that. The deadline for that update is 31 March. Nobody can see assignment options / open slots just yet. I think that's the next step.

So it looks like this lumps together everyone who can move, including the OCONUS returnees / CONUS mandatory movers and anyone who meets TOS requirements for a move. I think that's how this is working.

I'm not exactly sure what would remove someone from the vulnerable movers list. Maybe if they are applying for special program like OTS and the code hasn't been updated, or maybe if they have a medical issue and the code hasn't been updated, or something like that. Just a guess. This is like a test bed for ETM, so we'll see how it goes.

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An airman deployed to the U.S. Central Command area of operations died Thursday in a non-combat incident, Air Force officials confirmed.

Staff Sgt. Tristen Wright, 28, was found “deceased in his residence” on Aug. 15, according to a service release. He was “immediately transported to a local hospital where [he] was pronounced dead by medical officials,” the release added.

The circumstances surrounding Wright’s death, which officials said occurred at an undisclosed location, are currently under investigation.

A native of Palm Bay, Florida, Wright was assigned to the Air Force’s 27th Special Operations Logistics Readiness Squadron, based out of Cannon Air Force Base , New Mexico, service officials confirmed. He was deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. military’s ongoing effort to stamp out the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

“Tristen was a force for good within the 27 SOLRS and beyond,” Air Force Maj. Brent Escay, 27th SOLRS commander, said in a release. “He was the kind of supervisor who took the privilege of leading and mentoring airmen seriously. He cared deeply for the airmen in his flight and volunteered actively within the local community. We’ll never forget how his infectious smile could light up a room.”

Wright enlisted in the Air Force in August 2016, according to the release. He’d been serving as a material management specialist with the 27th SOLRS since 2019. Prior to that assignment, Wright spent two years with the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Kadena Air Force Base, Japan, from 2017 to 2019.

“These are our most difficult days. Tristen had a positive impact across the entire Cannon family and local community,” Air Force Col. Robert Johnston, 27th Special Operations Wing commander, said in a release. “We are committed to taking care of Tristen’s family and teammates affected by this tragedy. His family and friends remain in our thoughts and prayers.”

Wright had previously deployed in support of Operations Resolute Support and Inherent Resolve, according to an Air Force release. His awards include the U.S. Air and Space Force Commendation Medal, the U.S. Air Force Achievement Medal with two oak leaf clusters and “C” devices, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one oak leaf cluster and the National Defense Service Medal.

Jon Simkins is a writer and editor for Military Times, and a USMC veteran.

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Army fires command sergeant major of DC-area information ops unit

The Army fired the senior enlisted leader for 1st Information Operations Command this week, marking the second such leader in the Washington, D.C., area to be relieved in less than a week.

On Tuesday, officials relieved Command Sgt. Maj. Harold “Ed” Jarrell following a 15-6 investigation due to a “loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead effectively,” Maj. Lindsay Roman, command spokesperson, told Army Times in an emailed statement.

A 15-6 investigation is often conducted in response to allegations involving command climate concerns, poor leadership or misconduct.

Army fires command sergeant major of DC military task force

Command sgt. maj. veronica knapp previously served as the 101st airborne division's first female senior enlisted leader..

Jarrell assumed his position in January 2023. Roman did not have information as to his current assignment or his replacement at the time of this story’s publication.

Jarrell could not immediately be reached for comment.

The 1st Information Operations Command, based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, is the service’s only active-duty information operations unit, according to the unit’s website .

The brigade-level organization contains a headquarters detachment and two battalions.

The command falls under Army Cyber Command.

Jarrell enlisted in the Army National Guard in 1999, serving initially as an infantryman in the 10th Mountain Division, according to his official biography . In 2009, he reclassified his job specialty to counterintelligence special agent. He served in counterintelligence roles for 10th Special Forces Group and 75th Ranger Regiment.

He most recently served as the command sergeant major for the 311th Military Intelligence Battalion at Camp Zama, Japan, before assuming duties at 1st Information Operations Command in 2023.

His awards and decorations, among others, include the Bronze Star Medal (2nd award), Meritorious Service Medal (5th award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (5th award) and Army Achievement Medal (4th award).

On Aug. 8, Command Sgt. Maj. Veronica Knapp was also fired following a 15-6 investigation “due to a loss of trust and confidence in her leadership,” Army Times previously reported .

Knapp had served as the senior enlisted leader of both Joint Task Force-National Capital Region and the Army’s Military District of Washington since 2023.

She gained public prominence in 2021 as the first female senior enlisted leader of the 101st Airborne Division. She served in that position until being assigned to the task force.

The news website Military.com first reported Jarrell’s firing.

*Correction: This article has been updated to accurately reflect the higher command for 1st Information Operations Command.

Todd South has written about crime, courts, government and the military for multiple publications since 2004 and was named a 2014 Pulitzer finalist for a co-written project on witness intimidation. Todd is a Marine veteran of the Iraq War.

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