Air Force officials announced Monday plans to trim its active duty force by 3,700 officers and airmen.

The move is necessary, officials say, for three reasons: to meet the Air Force’s Congressionally-mandated end strength of 331,700, strategically balance the force and reduce an anticipated $228 million personnel funding shortfall.

How the reductions might impact Robins Air Force Base is unclear. John Birdsong, public affairs spokesman for Robins, referred press queries Tuesday to the Air Force Personnel Center at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

The Armed Forces News Release said eligible airmen could begin applying Nov. 17 for retirement or separation. The target number for officers is 2,074 and 1,633 for enlisted. Officials believe they can meet the enlisted goal but expect involuntary actions to reduce the officer corps only by about 900, the release indicated.

Officials believe separation rollbacks and reductions in Air Force specialty quotas for airmen who fail to complete initial technical training should meet the enlisted end strength.

Several methods will be used to trim the officer ranks including reductions to required time in grade for retirement eligibility for colonels and lieutenant colonels and limited active duty service commitments for officers in overage specialties.

The Air Force will also reduce officer training school accessions by 144 in fiscal year 2010 and delay active duty entry for 417 ROTC cadets until fiscal year 2011. Air Force will also expand criteria for transfers to the Air Force Reserve and to the Army.

The move comes at a time when the Air Force will be adding 9,000 new civilian positions in fiscal year 2010 as a result of contractor-to-civilian conversions, new organizations standing up and the overall creation of additional positions.

The press release said additional civilian slots are expected beyond 2010 with an estimated 25,000 new positions by fiscal year 2013.