High Year Tenure
Encyclopedia
High Year of Tenure is a term used by the US Air Force
to describe the maximum number of years a member may serve before he or she must separate
or retire. HYT is only applicable to personnel in the ranks of Senior Airman
(E-4) through Chief Master Sergeant
(E-9). HYT is governed by Air Force Instruction 36-3208.
Personnel demoted to a lower grade are subject to the HYT date of the lower grade.
Extensions to the HYT date can be obtained for various reasons such as personal hardships or base closures.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
to describe the maximum number of years a member may serve before he or she must separate
Separation (United States military)
In the U.S. armed forces, separation means that a person is leaving active duty, but not necessarily leaving the service entirely. Separation typically occurs when someone reaches the date of their Expiration of Term of Service and are released from active duty, but still must complete their...
or retire. HYT is only applicable to personnel in the ranks of Senior Airman
Senior Airman
Senior airman is the fourth enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman first class and below staff sergeant. It has a pay grade of E-4...
(E-4) through Chief Master Sergeant
Chief Master Sergeant
CMSgt ChevronChief Master Sergeant is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief".Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the...
(E-9). HYT is governed by Air Force Instruction 36-3208.
History and purpose
In 1991, then Secretary of the Air Force Donald B. Rice approved the HYT policy as a way to help shape the Air Force and correct the increasing seniority in the enlisted force structure. The policy became effective on 1 August 1991.HYT dates
HYT dates vary by rank as follows:| Rank | HYT |
|---|---|
| Senior Airman (E-4) and below | 10 years |
| Staff Sergeant Staff Sergeant Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:... (E-5) |
20 years |
| Technical Sergeant Technical Sergeant Technical Sergeant is the name of one current and two former enlisted ranks in the United States military.-United States Air Force:Technical Sergeant, or Tech Sergeant, is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. A technical sergeant is... (E-6) |
22 years |
| Master Sergeant Master Sergeant A master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF... (E-7) |
24 years |
| Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Master Sergeant and below Chief Master Sergeant and is a senior non-commissioned officer .... (E-8) |
26 years |
| Chief Master Sergeant Chief Master Sergeant CMSgt ChevronChief Master Sergeant is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief".Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the... (E-9) |
30 years |
Personnel demoted to a lower grade are subject to the HYT date of the lower grade.
Extensions to the HYT date can be obtained for various reasons such as personal hardships or base closures.