Critical career fields offer opportunity Published Feb. 1, 2007 By Tarsha Storey 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- First and second term Airmen who are contemplating about retraining into another career field as a result of an overage in their career field or a desire for a career change can still apply to be retrained into several critically-manned career fields or for a special duty assignment.Shortages of career job reservations and the resulting retraining are one of the tools currently being used by the Air Force to balance the manpower of the force, said Master Sgt. Gerard Cylin, 20th Mission Support Squadron career assistance advisor. This allows critical and overage career fields to balance their manning levels. At this time, there are 27 AFSCs listed as chronic critical that are in need of personnel, according to the Air Force Personal Center. Sergeant Cylin said first term Airmen in constrained career fields may find it difficult to obtain a career job reservation and as a result may not be able to reenlist.There are 40 Air Force specialty codes that are currently considered constrained, Sergeant Cylin said. This is a change from fiscal year 2006 when there were only 17 AFSCs constrained. Some of the career fields on Shaw that are currently constrained are avionics systems, munitions systems, and vehicle and vehicular equipment maintenance, Sergeant Cylin said. "Airmen and their supervisors need to keep up on current policies. First term Airmen need to attend right decision seminars and ensure they apply for retrain and special duty fields if they are in a constrained AFSC," Sergeant Cylin said. For more information on retraining, visit the Air Force Personal Center at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil.