Air Force approves 358 early retirements

The Air Force approved 358 early retirements — 311 enlisted service members and 47 officers — under the latest round of Temporary Early Retirement Authority, the Air Force Personnel Center said.

Most of the early retirements — 201 in all — went to technical sergeants, and 110 master sergeants also were approved for early retirements. In the officer ranks, eight captains, 31 majors, and eight lieutenant colonels received early retirements.

AFPC said it approved all applications that met the announced eligibility criteria. Airmen in those ranks in certain career fields who had at least 15, but less than 20, years of total active duty time as of Oct. 31 were eligible for early retirement.

Of the 358 airmen approved for retirement:

■ 79 have 15 years of service;

■ 66 have 16 years of service;

■ 81 have 17 years of service;

■ 95 have 18 years of service; and

■ 37 have 19 years of service.

The early retirements — commonly known as 15-year retirements — are part of the Air Force’s efforts to trim its ranks of both enlisted airmen and officers in fiscal 2014.

Airmen approved for early retirements must be out by Nov. 1. Approved applicants who are subsequently selected for promotion will be allowed to withdraw their application, but must do so within 10 weekdays of their promotion notification.