Can a FTA decline PCS orders if they do not wish to reenlist?

SPC Dakota Irvine — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 10:56:37 -0400

So my girlfriend in Air Force Security Forces. She just returned from a 6 month deployment to Jordan and is now facing a 12 month PCS to Turkey within a month of returning home from Jordan. Is there anyway for a first term airmen to decline orders? I read about AF Form 964 briefly and I would assume that is the way to go? My girlfriend only wishes to do one contract and obviously would like to avoid being away from home for a combined 18 months. I am open to any and all advice at this point.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2021 11:03 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:03:04 -0400

All the services work the same way. The Service Member is given an assignment. If they don't have enough time to fulfill the SRR they have to reenlist or decline to reenlist. If the Service members has enough time left on their contract to fulfill the assignment requirement then they will go. The tour length for Turkey is 12 months I think. So if your gf has 13+ months on her contract she is going. If she doesn't then she has to reenlist or decline to reenlist and ETS.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 15 at 2021 11:45 AM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 11:45:04 -0400

They are called orders and not preferences.

If your girlfriend has enough time on her contract to fulfill a 12 month tour to Turkey those are the cards she was dealt. How much time does she have left on her contract? If it's over 13 months it is correct what SFC Boyd stated. She will have enough to fulfill the orders and a declination statement wouldn't be applicable.

In addition I would recommend against if after all I said she still insists on refusing orders. Everyone I know who has refused orders outright ended up seriously damaging their career. It's not worth it and she'll end up getting worse orders in response.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2021 12:40 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:40:25 -0400

AF Basic is 8.5 weeks (59.5 days). Security Forces training is 65 days. Jordan was 180 days. That puts her at around 10 months. Add the 12 months for Turkey. 22 months. Even if she only signed for 3 years...that is going to give her plenty of time to PCS to Turkey and back to the States after that to ETS.