High Year of Tenure explained

High Year Tenure (HYT) is a term used by the United States Armed Forces to describe the maximum number of years enlisted members may serve at a given rank without achieving promotion, after which they must separate or retire.^[1] HYT is applicable to enlisted personnel of all six military branches of the United States.

Officers are not subject to HYT, but are instead limited to statutory service limits by pay grade.^[2] See Defense Officer Personnel Management Act for officer information.

In the United States Army, soldiers will finish their enlistment contract if they exceed HYT or RCP (retention control point), unless they are reduced in rank.

History

In January 2010, the Air Force returned HYT limits to pre-2003 levels.^[3]

On 1 August 2017, the Navy extended the HYT for active component sailors to 10 years from 8 years for third class petty officers, to 16 years from 14 years for second class petty officers, and to 22 years from 20 years for first class petty officers.^[4]

On 14 December 2017, the Navy announced that it will extend the HYT for seamen from its current five to six years on 1 February 2018.^[5]

On 1 February 2019, the Air Force increased the HYT for E-4 through E-6.

On 3 October 2022, the Coast Guard suspended HYT for enlisted active duty members until 1 January 2025.^[6]

On 22 December 2022, the Navy suspended HYT until 30 September 2024.^[7]

In December 2023, the Air Force did not increase HYT generally, but only for those with a HYT date between December 2023 and Sept 2024, which affected less than 2,000 people. Similarly, in July 2024 the USAF increased by two years the HYT for those with a HYT date between October 2024 and January 2025.

HYT dates

Extensions to the HYT date can be obtained for various reasons such as personal hardships or base closures. HYT dates vary by rank/rate, as follows:

Pay grade	^[8]	(promotable)	(active)^[9]	(reserves)	(active)^[10]	(reserves)	^[11]	^[12]	(active)^[13]	(reserve)^[14]
E-1	5	N/A	N/A		4	6	8	8	N/A	N/A
E-2	5	N/A	N/A		4	6	8	8	N/A	N/A
E-3	5	N/A	N/A		6	10	8	8	10	10
E-4	8	8	8		10	12	10	10	10	10
E-5	14	14	12		16	20	20	20	16	22
E-6	20	20	20		22	22	22	22	20	24
E-7	24	26	22		24	24	24	24	24	26
E-8	26	30	27		26	26	26	26	26	28
E-9	30	N/A	30		30	30	30	30	30	30

See also

• Up or out, a similar private-sector concept

Notes and References

1. Web site: Air Force Handbook 1, Airman . . 2022-12-04 . 2021-11-01.
2. http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=66091 Understand High Year Tenure to Maximize Your Career
3. Web site: AF returns enlisted high year of tenure to standards . Joint Base Charleston . 5 December 2023.
4. Web site: Navy Announces New High Year Tenure Policy for E-4 through E-6 . Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs . 2017-06-22 . 2022-12-05.
5. Web site: Navy Extends E-3 High Year Tenure. Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs. United States Department of the Navy. United States Navy. 2017-12-14. 2017-12-15. As part of ongoing reviews of policies that impact Fleet readiness, the Navy announced it is increasing its high year tenure (HYT) policy for active component and Full Time Support (FTS) E-3 Sailors by one year in NAVADMIN 290/17, Dec. 14. This change will retain experienced Sailors needed for both shore and sea duty as the Navy increases manpower to meet mission requirements and operational tasking. The updated policy sets the maximum length of service (LOS) by pay grade, and will go into effect Feb. 1, 2018, increasing E-3 HYT to six years from the current five years of service. In 2018, 1,280 E-3 Sailors will reach HYT under the current policy, and will now have an opportunity to continue naval service. Increasing HYT also provides these E-3 Sailors two more opportunities to advance. HYT for all other active duty, FTS and Selected Reserve enlisted Sailors pay grades remain unchanged. Sailors in receipt of or have pending HYT separation orders before to Feb. 1, 2018, who wish to remain in the Navy, may request cancellation of those orders by referencing the new HYT policy no later than Jan. 31, 2018. Advancement-eligible Sailors who decide to continue their service in the Navy can take the March, cycle 239, Navy-wide petty officer advancement exam. The Navy will continue to offer HYT waivers for enlisted Sailors who volunteer for sea duty on a case-by-case basis..
6. Web site: Suspension of High Year Tenure (HYT). 2022-10-03. 2022-12-05.
7. News: Navy Pilot Program Temporarily Suspends High-Year Tenure for Enlisted Sailors. United States Naval Institute News. 2022-12-22. 2022-12-24.
8. Web site: Army Directive 2016-19 (Retaining a Quality Noncommissioned Officer Corps) . . 2020-07-08.
9. Web site: MARADMIN 408/19 . . 2019-07-23 . 2022-12-05.
10. Web site: MILPERSMAN 1160-120 . 2018-05-08 . 2022-12-05.
11. Web site: Service Retirements . . 2021-02-23 . 2022-12-05 . 21.
12. https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_a1/publication/dafi36-3211/dafi36-3211.pdf
13. Web site: Military Separations . . 2019-12-09 . 2022-12-05 . 33.
14. Web site: Reserve Policy Manual . . 2021-02-04 . 2022-12-05 . 84.