Officials limit re-enlistment window to three months Published Feb. 10, 2004 By Staff Sgt. Melanie Streeter Air Force Print News WASHINGTON -- Air Force personnel officials are changing the re-enlistment eligibility window beginning March 5.The new policy requires active-duty airmen to re-enlist within three months of their term of service expiring, a change from the 12-month window currently in effect.“In our effort to shape the force, we continue to seek areas that will give us greater management oversight,” said Master Sgt. Maria Cornelia, the Air Force’s chief of retention and bonus programs at the Pentagon. “We want our airmen to understand that we’re not discouraging re-enlistments,” Sergeant Cornelia said. “By reducing the eligibility window, Air Force officials will have a better picture of how many re-enlistments we can expect within a given period.” Narrowing the window will also will assist officials with forecasting requirements for personnel programs such as selective re-enlistment bonuses, career job reservations and retraining, Sergeant Cornelia said.This policy shift is not something new, but a return to the policy in place before 2001. The eligibility window was expanded from three to 12 months during a low-retention period.“Getting a better picture of retention indicators will greatly enhance our ability to optimize personnel programs,” Sergeant Cornelia said.Airmen will still be authorized to re-enlist earlier than three months from their term of service expiring because of service-related requirements, such as a reassignment and promotion. Local military personnel flights have more information.