PSDM 09-31 OS Returnee Counseling Handoout

months to your DEROS (month/year). A Date of Separation (DOS) within the 12th month after
DEROS meets the minimum retainability requirement for PCS. For example, a DEROS of 28 July
2008 requires a DOS of 1 July 2009 or later to meet minimum retainability requirements.
This handout must be utilized in conjunction with the references in AFI 36-2110, Assignments,
paragraph 2.29, and Tables 2.5 and 2.6, as well as AFI 36-2107, Active Duty Service Commitments
and Specified Period of Time Contracts. Obtaining PCS retainability is your responsibility, even
if you receive no notification other than this handout.
a. Official Notification. This handout is your official notification of PCS and/or DEROS
extension service retainability requirements. Make sure you fully understand the retainability
you must have and the implications if you do not obtain the required retainability within the
established timelines. It is your responsibility to acquire the necessary service retainability to
maintain your DEROS and receive an assignment. It is important you visit your MPS for any
questions you may have regarding retainability.
b. Officer Retainability. Officers who have an indefinite DOS are considered as having
indefinite service retainability. If you have an established DOS, then that date is used to
compute retainability for any subsequent assignments. Upon selection for an event such as PCS
or DEROS extension, you may incur an additional Active Duty Service Commitment or may
have to sign a Specified Period of Time Contract (SPTC). If you need clarification on service
retainability, please seek counseling through your MPS.
c. Retainability Options for PCS. Within 30 days of receiving your DEROS Election or
DEROS Forecast RIP you must complete one of the following actions:
(1) Already have or must obtain the required 12 months service retainability to be
considered and receive PCS consideration.
(2) Decline retainability in writing by completing an AF Form 964, PCS, TDY or
Training Declination Statement. NOTE: if you are ineligible to obtain PCS retainability
because of High Year of Tenure (HYT) or quality factors, you do not have to decline
retainability.
(3) Apply for retirement to coincide with your DEROS, if retirement eligible.
d. Retainability Requirement for DEROS Extension. You must already have or obtain the
required retainability within 30 calendar days from notification of a DEROS extension approval.
Your DOS must be equal your approved DEROS extension.
e. Retainability Timeline and Automatic Actions. As an enlisted member, if you are eligible
to obtain retainability, but have not done so by the 25 th day of the 8 th month prior to your
DEROS (See Attachment 2 of this handout for suspense dates), the MPS will accomplish an AF
Form 964, on your behalf. If you are a second term or career airman, completion of an AF Form
964 makes you ineligible for promotion and reenlistment.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you fail to obtain proper retainability in the proper timeframe,
your DEROS will be involuntarily extended to match your DOS. If your DEROS is
involuntarily extended to match your DOS because of insufficient retainability, your original