AF officials return high year tenure rates to previous lengths Published Jan. 25, 2010 By 1st Lt. Gina Vaccaro McKeen Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- High year of tenure rates for most enlisted personnel will return to their previous time lengths, Air Force officials announced recently. The revised policy means senior airmen, for example, can serve up to 10 years of total active federal military service instead of 12 years. High year of tenure is the maximum years of service a member may remain on active duty in relation to his or her enlisted grade. The 2003 HYT adjustment was designed to retain experienced Airmen longer during a temporary period of robust economy and lower retention rates, officials at the Air Force Personnel Center here said. In an effort to normalize the force, Air Force leaders are reverting to the previous HYT standards. This change will bring Air Force HYT rates more in line with the other services. The changes are as follows: senior airman HYT will return to 10 years from 12; technical sergeant HYT will return to 22 years from 24; master sergeant HYT will return to 24 years from 26; and senior master sergeant will return to 26 years from 28. Chief master sergeant and staff sergeant HYT lengths were not previously adjusted and will remain at 30 and 20 years respectively. Changing the HYT lengths to their pre-2003 numbers is necessary because the Air Force is authorized about 30,000 fewer Airmen than in 2003, AFPC officials stated. Additionally, adjusting the HYT lengths will create opportunities for the promotion and development of younger NCOs, AFPC officials said. "The normalization of HYT lengths allows for solid career progression in the Air Force," Col Bill Foote, AFPC's personnel services director said. "HYT balances experience and youth in the Air Force. As enlisted Airmen move up in rank or out of the Air Force, other enlisted members can be promoted into those ranks." While the policy will be effective immediately, the changes to the HYT lengths will be launched in conjunction with promotion increment dates. This will give Airmen opportunities to compete for promotion before the new HYT lengths are enforced. The HYT normalization will begin fiscal 2011 for senior airmen, technical sergeants, and master sergeants; and fiscal 12 for senior master sergeants. The phased launch will also allow Airmen to plan for separation or retirement at the current grade if not promoted to the next grade. All Airmen who are involuntarily separated due to HYT will receive separation pay; and eligible Airmen may apply for full military retirement benefits. Any active duty service commitment that will expire after a member's newly established HYT date will be automatically waived. Also, members who have been previously approved for a HYT extension for hardship or best interest of the Air Force reasons will be allowed to serve until completion of their approved extension period. The changes will be applied equally to all Air Force specialty codes with the exception of technical and master sergeants who accepted critical skills retention bonuses within the combat control and pararescue career fields. These Airmen will be able to serve up to 25 years. With the policy change, a senior airman may only extend his or her enlistment or reenlist to the new HYT of 10 years, regardless of whether he or she is in a skill with a selective reenlistment bonus. Members who are assigned overseas and whose return dates are after the normalized HYT length expires must retire or separate on their adjusted HYT if applicable. For more information about HYT or other personnel issues, visit AFPC public Web site or call the 24/7 Total Force Service Center toll-free at 800-525-0102.