The Department of the Air Force is seeing the second highest retention levels in 20 years, second only to rates recorded in 2002. At the start of the new fiscal year, the Department recorded end strength numbers that exceeded its projected FY21 goal, despite restricted movement and other hardships faced during the coronavirus pandemic.

In order to stay within congressionally authorized end strength, the Department of the Air Force must adjust recruiting, accessions, and retention efforts, and will use several voluntary measures to help us manage the size of the force. The FY21 Voluntary Force Management program will consist of the following tools: Selective Retention Bonus (SRB), Expanded PALACE CHASE, Limited Active Duty Service Commitment (LADSC), High Year of Tenure (HYT) Extension limitations, Voluntary Retired Return to Active Duty (VRRAD), Officer Voluntary Limited Period of Active Duty Program (VLPAD), and the Interservice Transfer Program (IST).

Airmen requesting retirement or separation under the FY21 Voluntary Force Management program must apply between Jan. 20, 2021 and Apr. 2, 2021.  Applications are processed on a first-in, first-out basis so applicants should factor in requests for permissive TDY and/or terminal leave, as well as participation in the Career Skills (Skillbridge) program, when requesting a desired retirement or separation date. For more information, click HERE to visit myPers.

SRB is a tool used to retain Airmen and Space Professionals in undermanned specialties. The FY21 SRB program includes 37 Air Force Specialty Codes, including 28 that remain eligible from the FY 2020 Mid-Year SRB program. Nine AFSCs were added and 40 AFSCs were removed from the list. The FY21 SRB listing is available both on myPers and the Air Force’s Personnel Center retention page. For more information regarding the SRB program, visit the link or contact your local Military Personnel Flight Career Development section.

The Expanded PALACE CHASE program allows eligible active duty officers and enlisted members in selected Air Force specialties to transfer to an Air Reserve Component with a 1-for-1 time commitment of not less than one year or more than six years. Enlisted ADSC waivers will be considered for PCS, DEROS curtailment, and SNCO promotions. Officer waivers will be considered for PCS, DEROS curtailment, Tuition Assistance, Direct Accession, and Extended Active Duty ROTC and OTS service commitments. Some approved for a service commitment waiver may be required to repay the government for related monetary incentives, depending on the reason for the commitment. Eligibility will be managed through use of a Force Management Matrix. U.S. Space Force personnel will be exempt from this initiative. Enlisted members can click HERE for more information, and officers can click HERE.

The Limited Active Duty Service Commitment (LADSC) program allows eligible Airmen who want to retire no later than Sept. 1, 2021, or separate no later than Sept. 29, 2021, but have an active duty service commitment that prevents them from doing so may to apply for a waiver.  Enlisted Limited ADSC Waivers will be considered for PCS, DEROS curtailment, and SNCO promotions. Officer Limited ADSC Waivers will be considered for PCS, DEROS curtailment, Tuition Assistance, Direct Accession, and Extended Active Duty ROTC and OTS. Some approved for a service commitment waiver may be required to repay the government for related monetary incentives, depending on the reason for the commitment. Eligibility will be managed through use of a Force Management Matrix.  U.S. Space Force personnel will be exempt from this initiative. For more information on the enlisted program click HERE, for the officer program click HERE.

HYT Extensions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information go to myPers.

The VRRAD program provides selected retired Air Force rated officers the opportunity to return to active duty in order to alleviate manning shortages within the Air Force rated community.  Due to high retention and end-strength challenges, VRRAD applications, extensions, or exception to policy requests are not being accepted at this time.  Interested members should follow myPers for future opportunities for this program.

The VLPAD program provides Air Reserve Component (ARC) the opportunity to apply for extended active duty (EAD) to fill vacant active duty positions for a specific period of time. Due to Force Management efforts, the VLPAD program is suspended and applications are not being accepted at this time. 

For more information on Officer VLPAD click here.

For more information on Enlisted VLPAD click here.

The Interservice Transfer program allows qualified commissioned officers from other Uniformed Services to apply for transfer to the Air Force in select critically manned career fields.  Due to high retention and end-strength challenges, Interservice Transfer applications for transfer to the Air Force are not being accepted at this time.  Officers from other Uniformed Services interested in future opportunities for transfer to the Air Force should follow the Air Force's Personnel Center IST webpage .