AF implements changes to joint matters, joint tour credit

  • Published
  • By Kat Bailey
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas --  The definition of joint matters and the authorized length of joint tours, two major joint officer management laws affecting active and reserve component Air Force officers, have changed following publication of guidance from the Office of the Secretary of Defense. 

Title 10, Section 668, of the United States Code expands the types of joint activities considered joint matters, which are the basis for joint credit determinations. The definition expansion adds command and control as well as other essential joint functions including intelligence, fires, movement and maneuver, and protection or sustainment of operations under unified command.

The updated definition will likely affect both the joint duty assignment list validation board and the experienced-based joint duty assignment panel as more positions become eligible for designation as standard joint duty assignments--those in multi-Service, joint or multinational commands or activities involved in the integrated employment or support of the land, sea and air forces.

Section 664 of Title 10 modifies joint tour lengths to allow full joint credit after 24 months without a waiver. The standard joint duty assignment tour length of 36 months has not changed and the expectation is a majority of officers will serve the full tour. Officers leaving a joint duty assignment at less than 24 months for a command-boarded position or developmental education will still need a waiver to get accrued credit.

Any Air Force training or Air Force temporary duty of more than 30 consecutive days away during a joint duty assignment, to include pre-command training or joint professional military education course attendance, will not count toward the 24-month minimum tour credit.

Reserve component officer full joint tour credit will be reduced from six years in a standard joint duty assignment to four years, with a 50-day per year minimum annual participation requirement.

Joint qualified officer requirements remain unchanged for both active and reserve component officers.

Directive-type Memorandum 17-005, Implementation of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 Changes to the DoD Joint Officer Management Program, was published by the Office of the Secretary of Defense on March 24, formally implementing the changes due to the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2016.

Stay informed on the most current joint officer management information on the officer Assignment pages on myPers or select “Any” from the dropdown menu and search “Joint Officer.”

For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to myPers. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following these instructions.