air force enlisted assignment swap

Now Enlisted Airmen Can Swap Assignments. But Only If You Meet All Requirements

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

Related Content

Allvin takes aim at new area for re-optimization: family readiness, in a first, air guardsmen and reservists take on jrotc instructor duty, space force relies on airmen to recruit, but change is coming, how the air force’s moves in the middle east fit with changing deployments, future airmen and guardians will now carry practice rifles throughout boot camp, air force people czar wants to make pcsing easier by 2025, surging demand has airmen interpreters feeling the pinch, new air force warrant officer selectees skew older, higher-ranked, staff sergeant promotions surge, reversing 5-year slump.

• Cover Letters
• Jobs I've Applied To
• Saved Searches
• Subscriptions

Marine Corps

Coast guard.

• Space Force
• Military Podcasts
• Benefits Home
• Military Pay and Money
• Veteran Health Care
• VA eBenefits
• Veteran Job Search
• Military Skills Translator
• Upload Your Resume
• Veteran Employment Project
• Vet Friendly Employers
• Career Advice
• Military Life Home
• Military Trivia Game
• Veterans Day
• Spouse & Family
• Military History
• Discounts Home
• Featured Discounts
• Veterans Day Restaurant Discounts
• Electronics
• Join the Military Home
• Contact a Recruiter
• Military Fitness

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

You May Also Like

Pvt. Travis King, who had been stationed in South Korea, made international headlines in July 2023 when he left a tour group...

The “Palianytsia” was created due to urgent necessity, Ukrainian officials said, as Russia has dominated the skies since the...

Former President Donald Trump has vowed to create a Space National Guard if reelected to the Oval Office in November, a...

The VA's effort to recover payments to service members voluntarily or involuntarily separated from their respective military...

Military News

• Investigations and Features
• Military Opinion

Select Service

• National Guard

Most Popular Military News

Amid the Air Force's latest shift to reorganize the force for great power competition, a newly released memo offers an inward...

A top Army general suspended earlier this year following a Military.com investigation into his attempts to influence a...

In 2021, fresh off his previous role as deputy commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, Minihan knew that a massive overhaul...

The criticism stems not so much from Walz’s service record but from how he has characterized his time in uniform and how he...

The move, if signed off by the judge, would pull more Navy leaders into the legal case centered on the bribery allegations...

Latest Benefits Info

• National Guard Tuition Assistance
• Coast Guard Tuition Assistance
• Marine Corps Tuition Assistance
• Who Is Eligible for Space-A Flights?
• Air Force Tuition Assistance

More Military Headlines

Joby Aviation, a company with Dayton manufacturing plans, recently flew a Cessna autonomously for more than 3,900 miles for...

The current reservists can retire, put in for retraining with the Reserve, or apply for the Space Force, but they can't stay...

• Army Private Who Ran into North Korea Will Plead Guilty to Desertion, 4 Other Charges as Part of Plea Deal
• Former US Army Counselor Who Stole Millions from Gold Star Families Sentenced to Prison
• Suspended Army 4-Star Asks for Command Back After Pressuring Panel to Prop Up Career of Unfit Subordinate
• Autonomous Cessna Flies over 3,900 Miles in Test for Air Force
• As Space Force Launches New Model, Space Wing at Colorado Base Prepares for Inactivation
• Air Force Academy Restricted All Cadets to Base as Classes Started, Leading to Meat Shortages
• NASA Astronauts Who Will Spend Extra Months at the Space Station Are Navy Veterans
• US Naval Academy
• Navy Sailor Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Drunk Driving Death of Shipmate

Military Benefits Updates

• The Next Deadline for Backdated PACT Act Payments Is Coming Soon. Here’s What You Need to Know
• VA Fertility Benefits for Military Veterans
• Fertility Benefits for Active-Duty Service Members
• FBI Arrests Marine Veteran After He Self-Published Book on His Role in Jan. 6 Riot at Capitol
• Military Veteran Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of Ricin
• How Moves Put Military Families of Color at Risk
• Violent Seas, Boat Sinking: Rescue 95 Miles Off Oregon Tests Coast Guard
• A Former Navy Vessel Is Abandoned on the South Carolina Coast. Here's What's Being Done About It.

Entertainment

• Air Force Veteran and Beloved 'Famous Amos' Founder Wally Amos Dies at 88
• Michael Bay Docuseries 'Born Evil' Examines the Crimes of Navy Vet and Serial Killer Hadden Clark
• A Marine Corps Veteran Goes to War with Corrupt Local Cops in 'Rebel Ridge'

• Northwest Military
•   
• Submit Your Event
• Advertise with Us

• Hello. Login or Signup

Military Life

Entertainment.

Back to Military Policy

Air Force’s Enlisted Swap Assignment Program started June 1

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs on June 4, 2023

USAF Staff Sgt. Tanner Sullivan, loadmaster with the 7th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, loads a HIMAR onto a C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 62d Airlift Wing. Photo credit: Senior Airman Callie Norton

ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) -Announced at the September 2022 Air and Space Forces Association's Air, Space and Cyber Conference, the Air Force Enlisted Swap Assignment Program went 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.

Back on track

Katie Lange, DoD News on June 4th, 2023

Discover More Articles

• Recently Published
• By Same Author

DOD will offer reimbursements for breast milk shipping expenses under new policy

By Joseph Clark, DOD News on June 21st, 2024

New bereavement leave policy

By Joe Lacdan, Army News Service on July 7th, 2023

DOD issues Exceptional Family Member Program policy

By David Vergun, DOD News on June 30th, 2023

DAF releases Women, Peace, Security Strategic Action Plan

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs on June 23rd, 2023

DOD plans return to 'Defense Travel System'

By C. Todd Lopez, DoD News on June 18th, 2023

DAF releases FY25 special duty assignment pay tables

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs on July 3rd, 2024

AF releases FY24 Selective Retention Bonus list

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs on June 3rd, 2024

DAF announces changes to allowances for professional training

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs on May 28th, 2024

New name for ‘key spouses’

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs on March 25th, 2024

DAF publishes revised dress, personal appearance instruction

By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs on March 11th, 2024

• Privacy Policy
• Follow Weekly Volcano:

• Advertise With Us

Jobs & Education

Spouse magazine, featured events, online contests, south sound happy hours app, email sign-up.

Content © Copyright 2024 - Northwest Military. All Rights Reserved.

MilitarySpot.com

Serving the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard and National Guard

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.

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

• Subscribe Now Opens in new window

Your Air Force

• Pentagon & Congress
• Army Times Opens in new window
• Marine Corps Times Opens in new window
• Navy Times Opens in new window
• Defense News Opens in new window
• Flashpoints
• Benefits Guide Opens in new window
• Military Pay Center
• Military Retirement
• VA Loan Center Opens in new window
• Military Benefits
• Discount Depot
• Military Culture
• Military Fitness
• Gear Scout Opens in new window
• Military Movies & Video Games
• Military Sports
• Transition Guide Opens in new window
• Military History
• Black Military History Opens in new window
• Congressional Veterans Caucus Opens in new window
• Military Appreciation Month Opens in new window
• Vietnam Vets & Rolling Thunder Opens in new window
• Hall of Valor Opens in new window
• Service Members of the Year Opens in new window
• Create an Obituary Opens in new window
• Pay It Forward Opens in new window
• Medals & Misfires
• Installation Guide Opens in new window
• Battle Bracket
• Task Force Violent
• CFC Givers Guide
• Photo Galleries
• Early Bird Brief
• Long-Term Care Partners
• Navy Federal
• Newsletters Opens in new window
• Digital Edition Opens in new window

Program allowing enlisted airmen to trade bases begins Thursday

The Air Force on Thursday will start offering enlisted airmen the chance to move their job somewhere new, a new policy that aims to give troops more control over their careers and keep them in uniform longer.

Under the “enlisted swap assignment program,” announced last fall , airmen at the rank of senior master sergeant and below can offer up their spot at a particular base by posting on the Air Force’s internal MyVector talent management portal and chatting with others who show interest.

If two airmen in the same career field, at the same rank and skill level — and with the same array of other factors like security clearances and special experience — want to trade spots, they can ask the Air Force Personnel Center to swap through MyVector.

The initiative is targeted at:

• Airmen who want the flexibility to move for personal reasons, like being closer to family
• Airmen in large career fields who can work anywhere, like security forces and civil engineering
• Airmen seeking a change of scenery after spending several years at one base.

For instance, if a B-52 bomber engine maintainer at Minot Air Force Base wanted to leave North Dakota, they could trade places with a fellow Stratofortress maintainer at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana.

Airmen looking to swap must start the process within 90 days of receiving their next assignment. Both service members must be in good standing, have served at their bases for the same amount of time, and be otherwise eligible to change installations.

“We aren’t waiting for the perfect system to be built, and I’m glad to see this program come to fruition,” Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass said in a May 26 release. “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.”

The changes come as the military suffers from acute recruiting troubles. As airmen leave the service without replacements, those difficulties threaten to leave key fields like maintenance severely understaffed. About 10% of enlisted airmen who were eligible to leave in 2022 opted not to renew their contract .

Service officials have sought to offer airmen a marketplace where they could have a say in their next career move, like openings on a job board in the commercial sector. Airmen are typically assigned new positions based on the service’s needs, with opportunities to ask for a career change along the way.

In one recent step toward that goal, the Air Force is allowing its more than 100,000 first-term airmen — those serving under the initial four- to six-year contract they signed to join the militarys — to apply for a new job in any career field where more than 10% of the positions are unfilled. That opportunity begins Thursday as well.

As both initiatives get up and running, the Air Force asked troops for their patience with often finicky internal software.

“The program application on MyVector isn’t perfect, but it will evolve throughout the year,” said Alex Wagner, the Air Force’s civilian personnel chief. “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.”

Rachel Cohen is the editor of Air Force Times. She joined the publication as its senior reporter in March 2021. Her work has appeared in the Washington Post, the Frederick News-Post (Md.), Air and Space Forces Magazine, Inside Defense, Inside Health Policy and elsewhere.

In Other News

Trump promises to launch Space National Guard if elected

The republican nominee for president said he will push for a dedicated national guard branch for space missions if he is re-elected..

After Lackland base gate shooting, no arrests and few released details

Police continue to search for whomever fired at the base's gate early on aug. 17..

Military commissaries bringing bigger deals in September

Military grocery stores will offer extra discounts of up to 32% above regular savings..

Federal agency pulls back $583M Military OneSource contract for review

The general services administration will reevaluate the contract awarded to cognosante following protests by unsuccessful bidders..

US Air Force eyes missile defense for dispersed bases in China fight

The air force plans to spread out forces during a fight with china, and gen. david allvin wants to do more to defend dispersed bases from missile attacks..

• Today's news
• Reviews and deals
• Climate change
• 2024 election
• Newsletters
• Fall allergies
• Health news
• Mental health
• Sexual health
• Family health
• So mini ways
• Unapologetically
• Buying guides

Entertainment

• How to Watch
• My watchlist
• Stock market
• Biden economy
• Personal finance
• Stocks: most active
• Stocks: gainers
• Stocks: losers
• Trending tickers
• World indices
• US Treasury bonds
• Top mutual funds
• Highest open interest
• Highest implied volatility
• Currency converter
• Basic materials
• Communication services
• Consumer cyclical
• Consumer defensive
• Financial services
• Industrials
• Real estate
• Mutual funds
• Credit cards
• Balance transfer cards
• Cash back cards
• Rewards cards
• Travel cards
• Online checking
• High-yield savings
• Money market
• Home equity loan
• Personal loans
• Student loans
• Options pit
• Fantasy football
• Pro Pick 'Em
• College Pick 'Em
• Fantasy baseball
• Fantasy hockey
• Fantasy basketball
• Download the app
• Daily fantasy
• Scores and schedules
• GameChannel
• World Baseball Classic
• Premier League
• CONCACAF League
• Champions League
• Motorsports
• Horse racing

New on Yahoo

• Privacy Dashboard

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