Thousands of airmen are ensnared in a bureaucratic backlog that’s forcing staff to handle their reenlistments manually, in some cases delaying paychecks.
About 2,160 airmen are ensnared by the problem, which officials blame on outdated software. When the personnel managers fail to complete reenlistment or extension paperwork before a previous term in uniform expires, the system can cut off Airmen’s pay.
The Air Force is trying to process cases within 30 days, prioritizing those most in danger of losing their income, said spokesperson Britney Warwick.
Delays can also hold up selective reenlistment bonuses. SRBs are paid to Airmen in 73 specialties, and can be worth up to $360,000 depending on the job specialty and length of reenlistment.
The problem stems from new, longer reenlistment terms, which can now extend to eight years, two years longer than the previous cap of six years. The Air Force announced the change in May, enabling heftier bonuses and more flexibility.
“This, combined with the popularity of the 2024 selective retention bonus programs, resulted in a high number of reenlistment applications,” Warwick said.
While the Air Force Personnel Center changed the rules, it was unable to update its software fast enough. Warwick said staffers have to manually process each case to ensure accurate data entry. They are “completing these transactions as quickly as possible while also working a system update to account for the increased enlistment period,” Warwick said. It is unclear how long it will take to put a fix in place.
An email posted to the unofficial “Air Force amn/nco/snco” Facebook page on Monday recommends Aairmen work with their local finance office to receive advance pay, and then to have that money deducted from the back pay they earn once the reenlistment is processed.
The Air Force is pressing to enhance enlisted retention rates, in part to offset sluggish recruiting numbers in recent years. About 89 percent of eligible Airmen reenlisted in fiscal 2023, the Air Force said in December. Final data for fiscal 2024 should be available shortly after the fiscal year ends on September 30.