First sergeant initial tours increase from three to four years

Chief Master Sgt. Sandy Pfeffer, the Air Force's first sergeant special-duty manager, said in a Facebook post Monday that under the new system, first sergeants will serve a four-year initial tour, with options MEANING THE AF CAN OPT TO EXTEND YOU? OR MEANING THE 1ST SGT CAN OPT TO EXTEND?//sl Air Force extends to extend another one or two years, for a maximum tour of six years.

First sergeants who have 22 months or more on the job will not be affected by the change, and will continue to serve a three-year tour. WHAT ABOUT PEOPLE WITH 22 OR 23 MONTHS?//sl fixed

First sergeants who are promoted to senior master sergeant also will be required to serve another two years as first sergeant, beginning from their date of selection, Pfeffer said. But no one will serve longer than eight years, she said. SO IS IT ACCURATE TO SAY ''UP TO SIX YEARS ABOVE'' WHEN THIS MAKES IT LOOK LIKE UP TO 8 YEARS?//sl I added "most" to the lede. This is for a small subset of first shirts who get promoted at the end of their tour; the six year thing will cover the bulk of 1st sgts //First sergeants who have more than two years remaining on their current tour at the time of selection will not have their tours extended.First sergeants who have more than two years remaining on their current tour at the time of selection will not have their tours extended.

The new tour extension rules are not retroactive, Pfeffer said. That means selectees who already have an assignment back to their regular job -- known as their primary Air Force Specialty Code, or PAFSC -- at the time of selection and those who have already left their first sergeant job are exempt, she said.