European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - August 31, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Sunday August 31, 1986 the stars and stripes Page 9 army expands retraining program by Chuck Vinc Washington Bureau Washington beginning oct. I soldiers in the army s 10 critically overs strength Job specialities May have to re train in a shortage skill or leave the army. The move is an expansion of a test begun in May called fast track in which cos in grades e-4 and e-5 in three Over strength skills physical activities specialist wheeled vehicle Mechanic an signal Security specialist were asked to voluntarily reclassify into shortage skills. Ron Canada chief enlisted retention manager for the army military person Nel Center said the army hoped the test would get 1,800 volunteers to retrain. Less than 800 have done so he said. The test was due to end aug. 31. Soldiers in skills added to the fast track program will face an automatic bar to re enlistment if they Don t agree to retrain into an understaffed skill. Over strength jobs Are those that have at least 20 percent More personnel than Are authorized. Canada stressed that not All critically Over strength skills Are automatic Candi dates for the fast track program. We re going to try All other Force alignment tools first he said. If we still can t bring the numbers in line then we have to think about including the mos military occupational specially in the fast track  he said those tools include slowing accessions and promotions in Over strength skills and having the training and doctrine come restructure certain skills by Grade. But personnel officials already have identified about a half dozen skills that will probably be added to the pro Gram in addition to the three already tested tic said the program still will be aimed primarily at the e-4 and e-5 grades. A list of the skills will be announced before oct. I. Ten army skills Are considered to be critically Over strength meaning virtual Lyall Over strength skills would be included in the fast track expansion. Canada would not name the Job specialities that could be affected saying twas his policy not to identify which skills arc considered to be critically overs try nth at any particular time. To make it easier for soldiers to re train in shortage skills Canada said the new program will change army re