Airmen deployed to Kandahar may be home for holidays Published Sept. 23, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Angelique Smythe 451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- Some active-duty Airmen deployed supporting the war on terrorism may get to go home 30 days early, which may have them home in time for the holiday season. In an effort to move all 179-day tours and rotations back to the pivot months of June and December, most Airmen will be scheduled to leave one month earlier beginning January 2010. This plan is scheduled to last approximately 2.5 years. This decision was made in July, so some Airmen were given six months notice and already have orders in hand to relieve people from the area of responsibility in January. But just because an Airman's estimated departure date may be in January, it doesn't mean he or she will automatically leave in December. However, if one's replacement arrives on time and the turnover can be done in December, some may return in time for the holidays. "Year round, each month, people are rotating on 179 days," said Tech. Sgt. Susan Padgett, a 451st Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron logistics planner. "They're working to get back into the old way of doing things. Not everyone will leave 30 days early though. Some people have had their orders cut for the purpose of relieving others." After approximately five rotations, only those whose rotations fall in December or June will be on a 179-day tour. Guard and Reserve members are on a case-by-case basis. "Now, will you require an early release letter if you're leaving 30 days earlier? That's yet to be determined through (Personnel Support for Contingency Operations) and whether the person shows up in the system as having a shortened tour length," Sergeant Padgett said. "If it doesn't show up as a shortened tour length, then the unit may have to process in an early release letter." In regard to individuals who are receiving an early release, no paperwork is required if leaving within a week early. "If your turnover's done, we can put you out a week early on the rotator without an early release letter," Sergeant Padgett said. "Also, memorize your (unit line number) because that's how logistics personnel will be able to assist you or answer questions such as, 'When does my relief come in? Can I leave a week early if my turnover's done? How long do I have to stay if my relief doesn't show up?'" she said. Involuntary extensions have different meanings for those who have been here for less than one year, those who are at their one year mark, and those who are Guard, Reserve or active-duty members. "The command cannot push you more than two weeks past your termination date without the approval of the secretary of Defense," Sergeant Padgett said. "If it's been two weeks past your termination date and your relief has not showed up, you still get to go home with or without your relief." The plan is based off of each individual's required delivery date plus their estimated tour length. Active-duty members may be kept up to two weeks, but those in the Guard and Reserve cannot be kept involuntarily past their tour length, plus their turnover days, which is three days in Afghanistan. "If you're active duty and you've done your allowable dates and your turnover, then you're cued up to get out of Kandahar and then to the embarkation point, which is (the Transit Center at) Manas for us, even if you came through another location," Sergeant Padgett said. "You don't have to go back through the same Expeditionary Theater Distribution Center where you picked up your war reserved material, such as your weapons and body armor." Once the length of the tour, whether 120, 149 or 179 days are completed, plus the three days for turnover, Airmen should be prepared to leave on the fourth day. Those who've spent 365 days "boots on ground" get high priority and cannot be extended one day past 365 days, including turnover days.