Options for staying in the Military when facing HYT (High Year of Tenure)?

The BUPERS site has information. Presuming you're AD, it seems you're hitting the 10 year point. You can go reserve but will hit HYT at 12 years if you don't promote to E-5. Like officers, it's pretty much an up or out thing.

When I reached my HYT in the Marine Corps they offered me a waiver to reenlist. I know the guard has a higher age limit and you could probably promote faster. I don't think you status would prevent you from transferring and I've done that twice. Once I reenlisted from the USNR to the Air National Guard when I was within one year of the end of my contract. Another time I transferred only two years into my contract. There are other options if you have at least an associates degree. Good Luck. Due to three bad marriages I did not retire but federal service is good to me and military time can count for retirement. Just a thought. USAJOBS.COM - prepare for all scenarios.

PO3 David Griffith
Like others, the suggestion seems to be to talk to other service recruiters to include Guard and Reserve. I doubt you could do an inter-service transfer since you are facing HYT but it would clearly give you more info concerning a future military career. As former Navy enlisted E-6 myself, your options are pretty much exhausted and its a deep hole that you are in but you might be able to salvage a career.

A very good buddy I served in the AF with faced a 20-year career with retirement as an 0-3 after failure to promote to 0-4 (he was continued to 20 by the separations board). He subsequently separated from the AF and took a commission with the PHS and retired last year as an 0-5, failed to promote to 0-6 twice but retired with double his 0-3 AF retirement pay.

IF you have an appropriate college degree you can look into a commission as well. There are indeed medical programs that can be partially or fully paid for by one of the medical services (Army, AF, Navy, PHS). This assuming you meet the age requirements, undergrad degrees, etc. but there are age waivers based on your AD years.

What ever you do, you may have to write some sort of letter stating why you were not promoted.

I wish you well...