Early retirement application window closes Aug. 19 Published Aug. 8, 2013 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Airmen interested in early retirement through the Temporary Early Retirement Authority Program must submit their application no later than Aug. 19, Air Force Personnel Center officials said. TERA, or the 15-year retirement program, is one of several force management programs the Air Force has implemented for fiscal 2014 to meet end-strength goals, said Lt. Col. Ricardo Garcia, AFPC retirements and separations branch chief. Applicants must have at least 15 but less than 20 years of total active service as of Oct. 31. Airmen approved must retire by Nov. 1. Airmen with active-duty service commitments or time-in-grade requirements may be eligible for waivers as well, Garcia said. Applications must be completed and submitted via the Virtual Military Personnel Flight, accessible through the Air Force Portal or the myPers website. For eligibility criteria and application instructions, go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil and search for "PSDM 13-73" for the enlisted program or "PSDM 13-74" for the officer program.