Air Force Offers Early Outs, Pushes More Toward Reserve Amid Record-High Retention
Master Sgt. Hakim Tutt, 514th Air Mobility Wing in-service recruiter, speaks with an active-duty airman about the benefits of the Air Force Reserve at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. (Christina DeLuca/Air Force)
24 Jan 2021
Facing high retention rates, the U.S. Air Force is expanding its voluntary force management programs in an effort to transfer some airmen into the Reserve. The programs are available to officers and enlisted troops.
The service announced this week that it has opened the application process for the Palace Chase program, which gives active-duty airmen the opportunity to finish their careers in the Air Force Reserve. It is also offering the limited Active Duty Service Commitment waivers program, in which eligible airmen will be asked to retire no later than Sept. 1 or separate no later than Sept. 29, according to a news release.
COVID left the Air Force overmanned. Now’s your chance to get out early or go Reserve. January 19 Instructor pilots from the 47th Training Wing at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas prepare to take off in T-38s. The Air Force has announced an expanded Palace Chase program and active-duty service commitment waivers to help it voluntarily reduce a coronavirus-driven overmanning problem. (Airman 1st Class Anne McCready/Air Force) The Air Force said Tuesday it is offering a series of voluntary force management programs to some officers and enlisted airmen in a variety of career fields, as part of an effort to fix a coronavirus-driven overmanning problem.