Air Force Grants Potential Reprieve to Some Airmen Facing Separation

That should bring a sigh of relief for now.

Thanks for sharing the news LTC Ivan Raiklin, Esq. that the up or out policy is being relaxed so that "enlisted airmen from 106 career fields may be granted up to an additional two years to get promoted before being involuntarily separated from the Air Force, according to a service memo released last week.
The Air Force's high-year of tenure extension program is an effort to meet congressionally mandated end strength targets after a drawdown in 2014 caused significant shortages in certain Air Force specialties and grades.
Last year's program allowed airmen from 122 jobs to apply for extensions, a significant increase from 35 eligible career fields in 2015.
The Air Force policy commonly known as "up or out" dictates that airmen have a set time to make the next rank before being involuntarily separated. If an extension is approved, airmen remain promotion-eligible and their high-year of tenure dates adjust accordingly.
The extension program could mean a longer career for some airmen and the retention of experienced workers for the Air Force as it rebuilds.
The program is open to active-duty airmen from the specified career fields and grades with high-year of tenure dates of Oct. 1 through Sept. 30, 2018. The application window will be open through May 31, 2018."