{"id":35105,"date":"2021-01-25T23:42:28","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T23:42:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/01\/25\/are-you-eligible-for-early-outs-find-out-here\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:06:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:06:30","slug":"are-you-eligible-for-early-outs-find-out-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2021\/01\/25\/are-you-eligible-for-early-outs-find-out-here\/","title":{"rendered":"Are you eligible for early outs? Find out here"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As it tries to solve a coronavirus-driven overmanning problem<\/a>, the Air Force<\/a> is offering active-duty airmen the opportunity to volunteer to leave service early or switch to the Reserve as part of an expanded Palace Chase program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And now, you can find out whether you might be eligible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force last week said airmen who have active-duty service commitments may be able to apply for waivers to get out early or to serve out the rest of their commitment in the Air Force Reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, enlisted airmen switching to the Reserve as part of Palace Chase must serve two years for every year they have left on active duty, and officers must serve<\/a> three years. But under the Air Force\u2019s expanded program, eligible airmen will only have to serve one year for every year of service left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lt. Gen. Brian Kelly, the Air Force\u2019s deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, told reporters last month that the service in 2020 saw the highest retention in nearly 20 years. That is likely because the economic crash caused by the pandemic lockdown led some airmen to cancel or delay plans to retire or separate, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But that retention spike led to a serious overmanning problem. By December, the Air Force already had 900 more airmen than it hoped to have by the end of fiscal 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\t