Reenlistments and Extensions Brief

REENLISTMENTS AND EXTENSIONS BRIEF 7 February 2019 Base Theater

References AFI 36-2606, Reenlistments and Extension of Enlistment in the United States Air Force (27 Jul 17) AFI 36-2502, Enlisted Airman Promotion/Demotion Programs (12 Dec 2014) AFI 36-2110, Assignments AFI 36-2509, Fitness Program AFI 36-2907, Unfavorable Information File (UIF) Program DOD FMR, Volume 7A, Chapter 2, Repayment of Unearned Bonuses and Other Benefits DODI 1304.31, Enlisted Bonus Programs 2

General Information a. Reenlistment or extension in the Regular Air Force is a command prerogative and is not an inherent right of any individual. Airmen not selected for reenlistment via Selective Reenlistment Program will not be reenlisted. b. The Military Personnel Flight, Career Development (MPF -CD) Section is the base-level office of primary responsibility for the retention program. The MPF operates the reenlistment and extension program within Air Forcedirected guidelines. The MPF assists commanders/civilian directors in maintaining mission readiness by providing qualified Airmen the opportunity to pursue an Air Force career.

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General Information c. The MPF is the principle advisor to commander/civilian director and Airmen on all reenlistment and extension issues, provides a structured program in compliance with AFI 36-2606, coordinates reenlistment and retention issues with appropriate wing personnel, reviews and forwards approved requests for retention outside of current Air Force policy to Air Force Personnel Center Reenlistments Section (AFPC/DP1SSR), requests assistance as needed to resolve Military Personnel Data System (MilPDS) issues and process incidents in the Case Management System (CMS) when those issues involves pay that requires Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS) involvement.

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Reenlistment and Extension Inquiries a. All reenlistment inquiries must be vectored through the Airman’s chain of command, and the Commander Support Staff. Airmen should only be directed to the MPF when the inquiry or request is cannot be addressed at the squadron level. b. Likewise, the MPF must not direct any Airman to process their own reenlistment or extension action(s) to Air Force Personnel Center Reenlistments Section (DP1SSR) or to the TFSC when those actions fall within the MPF purview.

In accordance with AFI 36-2606, the MPF coordinates reenlistment and retention actions with wing personnel and is tasked with reviewing and forwarding locally approved requests for retentions that are outside current Air Force policy guidance.

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Reenlistment and Extension Inquiries b. Airmen forwarding requests to AFPC on their own often fail to have the required documentation/signatures and may not articulate the root cause of an issue, causing processing delays. Moreover, when this occurs it leaves the CD Section out of the loop on personnel actions that AFPC Reenlistments may direct. c. MPF/CD personnel processing any requests for assistance/update outside this established process will have their request returned without action.

Reference: Reenlistments PSD Guide

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Responsibilities – Commanders/Civilian Directors a. Initiate (as required), review and coordinate on all requests for action and recommend approval or disapproval of reenlistment program actions that are consistent with other qualitative actions. b. Ensure requests are thoroughly reviewed and considered, and in the best interest of the Air Force. c. Review monthly retainability reports to identify Airmen who do not meet standards and contact the MPF as soon as possible to begin the non-recommendation process.

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Responsibilities – Commander Support Staff a. Become familiar with the Air Force Reenlistment Program, AFI 36-2606 and the conditions that affect retention. b. Review all retention-related documents and advise the commander/civilian director accordingly. c. Coordinate with the servicing MPF on retention issues that affect unit personnel. The MPF is the point of contact for CSS personnel on all retention issues. d. Forward retention documents to Airmen, Commanders/Civilian Directors in a timely manner and return to the servicing MPF as required.

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Responsibilities – Commander Support Staff e. Create and forward Case Management System (CMS) cases to MPF for resolution. f. Monitors unit Reenlistment and Extension Program. g. Administer unit Selective Reenlistment Program (SRP) processing. h. Process unit Career Job Reservation (CJR) / Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) actions.

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Responsibilities - Airman a. Be aware of, their ETS or Date of Separation (DOS). b. Consult their CSS/MPF on all retention issues and take action when eligible to reenlist or extend. c. Review, complete and return documentation as required. d. Retain copies of all retention documents.

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Reenlistment Eligibility – First Term Airmen (FTA) Upon approval of a Career Job Reservation (CJR), FTA’s may request immediate reenlistment once the applicable time in service/time in grade (TIS/TIG) has been met.  4-year enlistee must serve 36 consecutive months on current enlistment and be in the grade of A1C with 12 months TIG  6-year enlistees must serve 60 consecutive months on their current enlistment and be in the grade of SrA Note: FTA may not reenlist prior to meeting the requirements outlined above. 

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Reenlistment Eligibility – Second Term/Career Airmen 

Are not part of the CJR program.

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Must be within 90 days of their expiration term of service to reenlist or have a service-directed retainability reason to reenlist earlier.

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Extension Eligibility    

Members must have a valid reason for extension according to AFI 36-2606, Table 6.2.

Member will only be allowed to extend for the number of months required to complete service directed reason.

Members must provide official source documents for the extension reason.

Common Source Document Examples:

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Tasking Letter/Memorandum- from UDM stating Expected Departure Date and Expected Return Date Retraining RIP PCS - Retainability Letter (outbound FM-15) TEB - Ineligibility Notification Letter/screenshot (via vMPF) Retirement Ineligibility Notification from AFPC (via e-mail) 13

Best Interest of the Air Force Extension Requests (BIOAF) ď Ž

Airmen may request to extend their enlistment under this rule, when no other rule applies per AFI 36-2606, Reenlistment and Extension of Enlistment in the United States Air Force, Table 6.2, Ruled 28d. Airmen requesting this extension must be eligible to extend and the extension period combined with any previous extension will be limited to 48 months on current enlistment. BIOAF, Airmen must justify their request to show how the extension will benefit the Air Force, explain how your justification to extend is unique and not experienced by average Airmen during their career.

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Best Interest of the Air Force Extension Requests (BIOAF) 

Airmen must submit the request via memorandum format through their chain to the MPF. All BIOAF requests are approved/disapproved by Air Force Reenlistments (see AFI 36-2606, paragraph 6.6.8.4).

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When approved, the MPF will notify Airmen via email.

Airmen must then immediately attend the earliest retention brief (unless the timeline warrants an exception), to begin the retention process.

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Airmen may not later request the extension be cancelled.

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Election Window 

The Reenlistment/extension election window is 150 days prior to Expiration – Term of Service (ETS) or Date of Separation (DOS). Exception: FTA

Note: AFPC will update a Record Status 20 (RSC 20 pending separation) code on Airmen that do not make an election between 110 and 120 days from Date of Separation (DOS).

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Election Window Failure to begin the retention process between 110 and 120 days from Date of Separation can result in:  

Loss of a promotion line number.

Cancellation of an assignment, to include approved BOP assignments.

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If the member is in RSC 20, they cannot request humanitarian assignment consideration.

FTA Only: Loss of a Career Job Reservation (CJR).

Pay issues (especially if reenlistment is done within 30 days of Date of Separation (DOS).

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Term of Enlistment (TOE)    

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Authorized TOE is 4-years, 5-years, or 6-years.

Minimum TOE is 4 years, with exceptions.

Airmen do not have the option to add additional months to the reenlistment contract.

An Airman may only reenlist for 6 years if they are within 29 calendar days of DOS or reenlist for 5 years if they have 12 months or less of obligated service.

Airmen reenlisting to reach their HYT may not exceed their HYT month.

Airmen with more than 36 months of obligated service are not authorized to reenlist.

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Obligated Service 

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Time in excess of 29 calendar days from the projected reenlistment date will be added to the projected Term of Enlistment.

Extensions are also considered OBLIGATED SERVICE. Term of Enlistment may not exceed a total of 72 months (6-years), including obligated service.

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How Do I Begin the Reenlistment/Extension Process?

Once you are between 150 to 120 days from your Expiration – Term of Service (ETS) or Date of Separation (DOS): 1. Attend one of the MANDATORY retentions briefings.

2. Fill out the requisite worksheet (reenlistment or extension) that will be provided to you at the briefing. Do not use any other worksheets other than what the Retentions Team gives you.

3. Return the worksheet to the Retentions Technicians once the briefing is complete. Do not leave with the worksheet.

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What If I Am Deployed During My Eligibility Window?

Deployed Airmen must go through their on-site Personnel Contingency (PERSCO) team. If one is not available, send the MPF a request to reenlist or extend via the retentions org box.

The MPF will generate the contracts and send them to the member via email.  If there is a PERSCO Team on-site, the member will fill out a reenlistment or extension worksheet, and the PERSCO Team will send it to the Retentions Team via a CMS case for action.

The MPF will generate the contracts and return it to the PERSCO Team to give to the member.  Return the signed contracts to either the PERSCO Team (if available) or to the MPF for signature and update.

Note: For planning purposes, please note that processing timelines for deployed and in-garrison personnel are the same. 

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What If I Am Deployed During My Eligibility Window?

Deployed Airmen must go through their on-site Personnel Contingency (PERSCO) team. If one is not available, send the MPF a request to reenlist or extend via the retentions org box. ď Ž The MPF will send the Airman a worksheet to fill out and return in order to generate the contract(s). ď Ž

Note: For planning purposes, please note that processing timelines for deployed and in-garrison personnel are the same.

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What Warrants Expeditious Processing of Contracts? 

Automatic expeditious processing is available for the following:

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Promotion – your line number must be projected for the upcoming month. Line numbers are published on the AF Portal (search Enlisted Promotion Increments), on/about the second week of the month prior.

Transfer of Eligibility Benefits (TEB) - suspense is 30 days from the date of application.

Retraining – timeline is driven by the class start date on the retraining RIP. Humanitarian or other extremely short-notice assignment (case by case).

Retirement/Separation at HYT 23

Timeline for Receiving and Returning Retention Contracts REENLISTMENTS:  No earlier than 10 duty days prior to projected date of reenlistment, the member will receive an AF 901, Reenlistment Eligibility Annex to DD Form 4 with instructions via email.  The AF 901 must be routed and digitally signed by the member and Commander, and returned to the MPF NLT than two duty days prior to projected reenlistment date.  Once the MPF receives the AF 901, we will PROJECT the reenlistment in MilPDS, and the member can pick up their DD Form 4 no earlier than one duty day prior to the reenlistment date.

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Timeline for Receiving and Returning Retention Contracts REENLISTMENTS CONTINUED:  The member will conduct their reenlistment, and both the member and reenlisting officer must wet sign the document.

Note: The DD Form 4 must be wet signatures only. Sign in reproducible blue, black or blue-black ink.  The original DD Form 4 (all pages) must be returned no later than the following duty day after reenlistment.  The MPF will sign the DD 4, update MilPDS and send both the AF 901 and DD 4 to AFPC for inclusion in PRDA.

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Timeline for Receiving and Returning Retention Contracts EXTENSIONS:  No later than 10 duty days from the date the worksheet was submitted, the MPF will email the CSS and the AF 1411, Extension of Enlistment with instructions attached.  The AF 1411 must be routed and digitally signed by the member and Commander, and returned to the MPF no later than seven duty days from receipt.  The MPF will sign the extension, update MilPDS and send the contract to AFPC for inclusion in PRDA.

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Signatures, Signature Element, Dates, and any Changes on AF Retention Forms a. The Common Access Card signature will populate the date on the AF 901 and AF 1411. Signature elements may not white out or change the date in which the form was digitally signed by a Common Access Card. b. Do not sign and or submit blank forms for Common Access Card signature. c. Do not use “auto-signature” pens or delegated “Common Access Card” signatures. d. Do not delay signing retention documents due to pending personnel changes, promotions, etc. e. Do not make any changes to any of the retentions forms without MPF approval. EXCEPTION: Personal information limited to name, social security number, and unit information may be changed if needed.

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Reenlistment Non-Selection Process 

Once a month the MPF will send Squadron Superintendents and First Sergeants a Retainability Report.

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It is each squadron’s responsibility to ensure only the most qualified Airmen are given the opportunity to serve.

Airmen who are identified as not meeting standards must be evaluated for continued service.

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Only Commanders can approve or deny a reenlistment, however squadron leadership and the CSS’s must work together to identify Airmen with negative quality indicators.

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Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) 

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SRB is a monetary incentive paid to Airmen serving in certain selected critical military skills who reenlist/extend for additional obligated service.

It is intended to encourage the retention of sufficient numbers of qualified enlisted personnel in military skills with either demonstrated retention shortfalls or high training costs.

Airmen can expect to serve in the Selective Retention Bonus specialty for the entire enlistment for which the bonus was paid.

The Air Force may designate SRB’s by AFSC, zone, skilllevel, grade, unit, or to meet other condition(s) as determined by the Secretary of the Air Force.

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Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) 

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Eligible Airmen may receive a SRB in each zone, but only one SRB per zone. The maximum Selective Retention Bonus payable is $100,000 per zone.

When zones are used as part of the Selective Retention Bonus criteria, the zone is determined by the Airman’s Total Active Federal Military Service at the time of reenlistment or date he/she enters the extension.

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Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) ď Ž

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Airmen reenlisting receive their initial SRB entitlement (less taxes) upon reenlistment, AND once processed to DFAS. Any remaining annual installments are paid in accordance with the implementation guidance that was in effect at the time of reenlistment. c. Airmen extending their enlistment receive their initial SRB entitlement (less taxes) upon entering the qualifying extension, AND once processed to DFAS. Any remaining annual installments are paid in accordance with current payment scheduled as listed in the guidance

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Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) 

Airmen extending their enlistment at least 36 months (in one increment) are eligible for the SRB based on: • The date the Airman signs the AF Form 1411 establishes eligibility. Future changes to Selective Retention Bonus skills list do not affect the Airman’s Selective Retention Bonus entitlements • The date the Airman enters the extension determines the Zone.

Example: If an Airman extends while serving in the Zone A window, but will be in the Zone B window on the day the extension is entered, the Airman receives a Zone B bonus.

Likewise, if an Airman extends while serving in Zone A, but will be in Zone B, and there is no Zone B authorization, the Airman would not qualify for a SRB. 32

Selective Reenlistment Bonus (SRB) 

Airmen do not qualify for the Selective Retention Bonus if they reenlist or extend their enlistments for any purpose other than continued active service in the Selective Retention Bonus skill.

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SRB Zones:

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Zone A: 17 months-6 years of TAFMS Zone B: 6 years to 10 years of TAFMS Zone C: 10 years to 14 years of TAFMS Zone E: 18 years-20 years of TAFMS

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Eligibility for Retrainees (Voluntarily/Involuntarily) of SRB Skills and Developmental Special Duty (DSD) ď Ž

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Airmen attain SRB eligibility when they qualify for and serve in a SRB-designated skill. When Airmen are selected for retraining and must reenlist to obtain retraining retainability, their CAFSCs and retraining-in AFSCs determine SRB eligibility and the multiple.

Voluntary Retraining. Airmen receiving a SRB may volunteer as an ETP to retrain only if they are within the month they will complete at least 50% of their current enlistment, at the time of request. No other requests will be considered. AF/A1 is the approval authority for voluntary retraining requests. There are several factors that will determine whether requests will be approved (manning, career field health, etc.). If approved for retraining all unearned portions of the bonus will be recouped and all future/anniversary payments will be terminated. AFPC Retraining will notify AFPC Reenlistments via current processing procedures of affected Airmen in order to initiate termination/recoupment actions through DFAS. 34

Eligibility for Retrainees (Voluntarily/Involuntarily) of SRB Skills and Developmental Special Duty (DSD) ď Ž

Involuntary Retraining. AFPC Retraining will make every effort to prevent involuntary retraining for Airmen receiving a SRB. Airmen who are involuntary retrained as a result of the Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program (NCORP) are not required to repay unearned portions of a SRB. However, they will not receive any future/anniversary payments. AFPC Retraining will notify AFPC Reenlistments via current processing procedures of affected Airmen in order to initiate termination of future payments through DFAS.

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Eligibility for Retrainees (Voluntarily/Involuntarily) of SRB Skills and Developmental Special Duty (DSD) Developmental Special Duty (DSD). Airmen receiving a SRB must have completed 50% of their current enlistment and sign a memorandum waiving the remaining payment portion of the SRB to be considered for a DSD position. Airmen who are selected for DSD will have their SRB terminated IAW the DoDFMR. AFPC Assignments will notify AFPC Reenlistments via current processing procedures of affected Airmen in order to initiate termination of future payments through DFAS. (Exception: Airmen who are selected for a DSD position within their career field retain future SRB payments.) ď Ž Refer to AFI 36-2606, Table 4.2 for a complete breakdown of SRB Eligibility for Retrainees (vol/invol) and DSD. ď Ž

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Eligibility for Airmen in Additionally Awarded SRB Skills (Including CONUS/Overseas Imbalanced SRB Skill into an awarded SRB) Airmen with an assignment into an awarded SRB AFSC (other than their current CAFSC); or Airmen who are in a special duty and who have an assignment back into their SRB-CAFSC may reenlist in the SRB skill provided:  Meet all reenlistment eligibility criteria.  Receive official notification of an assignment into the SRB AFSC.  Reenlist within 90 days of their departure date on PCS or PCA into the SRB skill. If they reenlist more than 90 days prior to departure, they will reenlist in their current CAFSC and receive the corresponding SRB and multiple (if applicable). 

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Eligibility for Airmen in Additionally Awarded SRB Skills (Including CONUS/Overseas Imbalanced SRB Skill into an awarded SRB) SRB recipients may not perform duty outside their SRB specialty for more than 90 consecutive days in a 360 day period or a combined total of 90 days within a 360 day period. (Note: This does not apply to deployment taskings.

Airmen in SRB skills may be tasked to deploy/fill non-SRB duties without SRB interruption.) ď Ž Airmen serving in SRB skills announced for a SRB reduction or termination must extend or reenlist before the effective date of change in order to receive the bonus.

Note: Airmen may only reenlist if he/she has a servicedirected reason or are within the reenlistment window as established by Air Force policy. ď Ž

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SRBs and Airmen Approved for Special Duty/Reporting Identifiers ď Ž

Airmen are not eligible for a SRB if they reenlist or enter an extension in order to get required retainability for a special duty or reporting identifier.

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Airmen DQ’d from their SRB AFSC 

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All Airmen DQ’d from their AFSC and in RI of 9A000, 9A100, 9A200 or 9A300 are updated to RE code 4G. Commanders/ civilian directors may not waive Airmen in RE code 4G to permit reenlistment unless the Airman has been selected and approved for retraining or Special Duty.

Airmen DQ’d and in RI 9A000 or 9A100 may execute a onetime extension in order to remain on active duty for 12 months to qualify/compete for retraining/Special Duty. Under no circumstances can the extension period combined with the remaining obligated service exceed 12 months.

Airmen in RI 9A200/9A300 will separate on DOS unless the commander/civilian director initiates early separation or completes retention versus separation package and retain the Airman.

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Cancelling an Extension in Conjunction with Retraining and SRB Airmen are required to have 36 months retainability from the graduation date annotated on the retraining RIP. Retainability must be obtained prior to leaving for technical training. ď Ž If qualified, Airman must go to the MPF immediately but no later than 30 days after the graduation date on the training certificate to cancel their extension and reenlist for a SRB. Airmen who retrain into a career field with more than one training phase, will report to the MPF immediately after, but no later than 30 days from graduation of the FINAL phase of training to cancel their extension and reenlist for the SRB. ď Ž

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SRB Processing Timeline The Airman reenlists or extends, and returns the completed contracts to the MPF for update.  The Retentions Team is required to complete TWO transactions: • Update Service Dates • Execute a service date update transaction to the member’s pay record.  Prior to creating a CMS case to send to AFPC for validation, the Retentions Team will need to ensure that the service date update transaction flowed to the member’s pay record.

If the update flows, a CMS case can be created and sent to the AFPC SRB Section. 

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SRB Processing Timeline If the update is unsuccessful, the Retentions Team is required to make a total of three attempts to flow the reenlistment/extension data before creating a CMS case to request assistance from the AFPC Reenlistments/Extensions section.  AFPC will verify that the member is eligible for a SRB, and that the SRB Zone is correct, then annotate the CMS case and forward it to DFAS for action. This could take up to 21 days.  DFAS will update the member’s pay record to reflect the new service dates, validate the SRB Zone, and project the SRB data. This could take between two to four weeks depending on their workload. 

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SRB Processing Timeline ď Ž

Once DFAS completes their validation and projects the SRB, they will return the case to the MPF, who are then responsible for sending the CMS case to the base-level Finance office for them to disburse the payment (less taxes), in accordance with each SRB Zone’s pay increment policy outlined below.

Zone A: 50% at the time of reenlistment/date entering the extension and the remainder in equal anniversary installments over the term of the contract Zone B: 75% at the time of reenlistment/date entering the extension and the remainder on the first anniversary of contract Zone C: 100% at the time of reenlistment/date entering the extension Zone E: 100% at the time of reenlistment/date entering the extension 44

Contact Information/Briefing Schedule Military Personnel Flight/Career Development – Retentions Team: COMM: 301-981-1776, Option 2 DSN: 858-1776, Option 2 Email: usaf.11fss.retentions@mail.mil *If you experience issues sending encrypted messages to the org box, please let us know.

Retention Briefing: WHEN: Every Tuesday and Thursday at 1000 – walk-in only WHERE: 1414 Arkansas Road, JB Andrews MD 20762.

Note: The MPF is closed every second and last Thursday of the month for in-house training. We are also closed for all federal holidays and AFDW Family Days. In the event of inclement weather, the MPF follows OPM and JB Andrews-directed closures.

For emergencies, please contact the 11 FSS First Sergeant and he will contact one of the Superintendents or Team Leads to assist you.

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Questions?

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