AF opens additional TERA, VSP windows

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  • By Staff Reports
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
The Air Force will open two new fiscal year 2014 force management Temporary Early Retirement Authority application windows, and a new voluntary separation pay application window, Air Force Personnel Center officials said today.

Commonly referred to as the 15-year retirement, TERA eligibility will be based upon the updated matrices posted on myPers, and will apply to Airmen who have between 15 and 20 years of active service.

April 15 - May 13 TERA Window

The first window, planned for April 15-May 13, is for Airmen who were unable to apply during the original application window that ended March 26 due to unwaiverable active duty service commitments, deployment status or a short tour assignment.

"Some Airmen who were interested in applying were unable to do so because their service commitment couldn't be waived," said Col. Joe Atkins, AFPC operations division chief. "AFPC was recently granted expanded ADSC waiver authorities after the first TERA window closed. Opening a second window helps ensure that those Airmen are treated equitably."

Air Force officials also reviewed and revised the policy affecting Airmen whose deployment or short tour return dates were after the original required separation or retirement date. The revised policy makes an exception for those Airmen, allowing them to apply and, if approved, have the ability to separate or retire based upon their circumstances.

"A deployed Airman could request a retirement date up to four months after returning to their home station," said Atkins. "For an Airman on a short tour assignment, their requested retirement date must correspond with their date eligible to return from overseas."

Eligible Airmen must apply through the Virtual Military Personnel Flight application, accessible via the Air Force Portal or the myPers website. Approved Airmen not on a deployment or short tour mentioned earlier, must be retired by Sept. 1, 2014.

Detailed instructions on this new TERA window were published this week to ensure information was available by the April 15 opening.

May 22 - June 30 TERA/VSP Window

Another TERA window opens May 22-June 30 for officers eligible to meet the October reduction in force board. At the same time, a second voluntary separation pay window will be open for these RIF-eligible officers.

These TERA and VSP windows ensure all officers who may be subject to the involuntary board in October have an opportunity to apply and be considered for a voluntary program. These opportunities have adjusted retirement or separation dates allowing time for affected Airmen to plan and prepare.

Eligible officers approved for the RIF-only TERA must retire by Jan. 1, 2015, and if approved for the RIF-only VSP, must separate by Dec. 31, 2014.

Detailed instructions on the TERA and VSP windows for RIF-eligible officers will be published in early May.

For full application instructions and eligibility requirements, go to the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil and enter "Active Duty: FY14 Force Management Programs" in the search window, select the link to the program page, and select the officer or enlisted force management programs link.