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High year of tenure changes take effect in 2013

Posted 8/17/2012 Email story   Print story

    


by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel Center


8/17/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO - RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- High year of tenure changes announced in December will go into effect in September 2013, Air Force Personnel Center officials reminded affected Airmen on Aug. 16.

Changes will affect senior airmen, staff sergeants and technical sergeants, said Lt. Col. Tara White, AFPC retirements and separations chief, who explained that high year of tenure refers to the maximum number of years enlisted Airmen in each grade may remain on active duty.

In 2003, HYT was adjusted upward to retain experienced Airmen during a robust economic era. In 2010, the Air Force began the process to normalize HYT, reducing senior airman, technical sergeant, master sergeant and senior master sergeant levels. In December 2011, the Air Force announced that HYT would continue to be adjusted beginning in 2013.

Beginning in 2013, high year of tenure limits for senior airmen will be reduced from 10 years to eight years; staff sergeant 20 years to 15 years; and technical sergeant 22 years to 20 years.

As a result of HYT, AFPC cancelled some assignments, but those cancellations have no effect on promotion eligibility, White said. Airmen who are otherwise eligible to test for promotion will be able to test during the next cycle.

Although Airmen affected may be selected for promotion before they reach HYT, assignments are selected in most cases between 15 and 18 months in advance, and Airmen must have retainability at the time of selection to ensure a last-minute assignment decision isn't necessary.

"Normalizing HYT helps develop and maintain the right balance of experience in the Air Force," said White. "The future of the Air Force depends on balance in numbers, ranks, experience levels and career fields, so HYT is one way we can achieve that."

For more information on high year tenure, assignments and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at http://mypers.af.mil.



tabComments
8/21/2012 3:15:08 PM ET
Being a Wingman is more important than ever now. These changes completely changes a person's future and goals. Support your fellow wingman during these cutbacks.
TSgt Concerned, Joint Base Pearl Harbor
 
8/20/2012 2:48:43 PM ET
The article is a bit misleading when it talks about how HYT was adjusted in 2003. Prior to 2003 for SrA-TSGt the HYT was higher than what it is being changed to. So why even throw in that fact
Kitty Litter, Sandbox
 
8/19/2012 10:00:18 PM ET
It was ridiculous to cancel orders for 4 year tours for SrA with 4 years TIS.
Sgt Dawhodawut, not on a 4 year tour
 
8/18/2012 1:44:51 AM ET
Obviously we haven't learned from our mistakes. While I understand we as NCO's and SNCO's must train our younger. Forcing people out will create another power vaccuum and drive us back into the everybody gets promoted and lower the cut off scores again. Thus creating another powerfully rank heavy force who doesn't know or understand the AFI's and another EPR system. Luckily we now 1-1 to help us clarify nothing.
Grave Danger, deployed again
 
8/17/2012 3:35:40 PM ET
I would have thought saving money would have drove the Military leaders in a different direction to save in both the military side and civilian side ie extend the minimum retirement from 20 to 25 years without backing the rank HYT down allowing lower ranked people to stay at those ranks longer and then give priority to stay on in a civil service slot comperable to what they were doing in the military and receive their retirment after retiring from civilservice. Of course this would need to be grandfathered to those with 10 years of service and below but it will save money.
SNCO Ret 89, Ohio
 
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