RETENTION

Reenlistment in the Department of the Air Force is not an inherent individual right for enlisted Airmen and Guardians. It is a privilege and confers an obligation to serve.  Airmen and Guardians may be considered for reenlistment or extension if they meet eligibility requirements, have qualities essential for continued service, and can perform duty in a career field in which the Department has a specific need.

Only the Airman’s or Guardian’s commander or civilian director’s decision selects or nonselects the service member for continued service.  Airmen and Guardians non-selected for reenlistment will separate on their current date of separation and will not be extended for any reason other than appeal processing.

The Career Job Reservation program is a Department of the Air Force tool used when needed to manage the number of First Term Airmen and Guardians allowed to reenlist into their current Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC) or Space Force Specialty Code (SFSC) CJR limitations are established to manage projected surpluses and shortages by skill. The CJR program is managed on a fiscal year basis. It implements the reenlistment limitation for the AFSC or SFSC projected to have surplus Airmen or Guardians; however, not all fiscal years will have limitations in specific specialty codes. For more information on the program please go the Career Job Reservation program page on myFSS. 

All Airmen and Guardians can voluntarily extend a maximum of 48 months per enlistment; this is limited by law. There are no exceptions or waivers to exceed the 48 months.  For more information on the program please go the Extension of Enlistment in the Air Force page on myFSS.

Extensions are not approved for monetary advantage, to increase bonus entitlement, provide additional time to make a career decision, defer separation to coincide with civilian plans, or to apply for a CJR or request retraining. 

Information for active-duty enlisted members regarding the Career Airman Reenlistment Reservation System, the Non Commissioned Officer Retraining Program (NCORP), and information on how to submit a retraining package, as well as links to other resources related to retraining are available via myFSS.

The Selective Retention Bonus, or SRB, program is a monetary incentive paid to active-duty Airmen and Guardians serving in certain selected military skills who reenlist for additional obligated service. The bonus is intended to encourage the retention of enlisted personnel in military skills with either demonstrated retention shortfalls or high training costs.  

Airmen and Guardians can expect to serve in the SRB specialty for the entire enlistment for which the bonus was paid.  Airmen and Guardians do not qualify for the SRB if they reenlist or extend their enlistments for any purpose other than continued active service in the SRB skill. Airmen and Guardians are not eligible for an SRB if they reenlist or enter an extension in order to get required retainability for a commissioning program after the selection date.

The SRB listing is reviewed at Headquarters Air Force at least once per year. However, HAF may determine the need to make changes during the year and release a listing upon that decision. Once the Air Force’s Personnel Center receives the list from HAF, it is posted to myPers and here on the AFPC public website.

Your Military Personnel Flight should be the first point of contact for information about SRBs. For information on bonus amounts, contact your local finance office. 

Commander/civilian directors ensure ceremonies are conducted in a dignified and professional manner, appropriate for an official act in a place that provides reverence to the oath being taken; safety of all participants should also be paramount.

Airmen and Guardians may request any commissioned officer, including Commissioned warrant officers in the grade of CW2, CW3 and CW4, regardless of component—Regular, Reserve, Guard, or Retired—in the U.S. Armed Forces to perform the ceremony. Reenlistments can be conducted on any day of the year and traditionally have the U.S. flag forming a backdrop for the oath. The reenlisting Airman or Guardian and reenlisting officer must wear an authorized uniform for the ceremony, although the uniform requirement is optional for retired officers. The Air Force or Space Force physical training uniform is not authorized when conducting a reenlistment.

Airmen and Guardians must reenlist at their home station unless they are absent due to deployment, hospitalization or are in a pipeline status (school, overseas returnee, etc.). In addition, Airmen and Guardians must be present for duty and cannot reenlist while on leave.