Taking care of yourself: know your DEROS options and entitlements Published May 12, 2009 By Master Sgt. Margaret M. Williams Superintendent, Personnel and Administration Flight ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- When you hear the words "take care of yourself" you usually think about health or fitness; however, there are other important ways to take care of yourself. Each Airman stationed overseas must know and understand their date eligible for return from overseas options and entitlements. Each week, I read incredible articles in the Jet 48 and The Force magazine about all the magnificent work being done to take care of the mission -- we have some truly amazing Airmen doing truly outstanding work. Sometimes though, Airmen are so focused on the mission they forget about themselves and mistakenly assume "someone" will let them know about their DEROS options and entitlements when the time comes. Over the years personnel services have been drastically reduced and virtualized, and it's now up to Airmen to know their options and entitlements. Too many Airmen have lost entitlements because they didn't take the time to take care of themselves--don't let that happen to you! What can you do? Understand that the DEROS program is managed quarterly; you will receive a DEROS election option approximately 12 to 14 months prior to your DEROS. If your DEROS is April, May, or June of 2010 then it is time to make your DEROS election option. All requests for tour extensions must be received and updated by your local personnel office no later than May 31, 2009. Any request received after that date will be considered "out of cycle" and require justification and your squadron commander' s recommendation for approval. Final approval authority rests with the Air Force Personnel Center. The next cycle will run for July, August, and September 2010 DEROS months; all requests must be received and updated by your local personnel office no later than Aug. 31, 2009. Know your options. The purpose of an Indefinite DEROS is not to stay in England indefinitely; the primary purpose for requesting an Indefinite DEROS is to enhance your chances for a consecutive overseas tour or an enlisted quarterly assignment list plus special duty assignment. With an Indefinite DEROS you will be considered at each COT assignment cycle until matched with an assignment or approved for an applied EQUAL Plus special duty assignment. Overseas Tour Extension Incentive Program. This is a 12-month DEROS extension for selected Air Force specialty codes. A complete list of eligible AFSCs can be found here. If you are OTEIP eligible you can apply for one of the following incentive options with your 12-month DEROS extension: a $2,000 lump sum bonus, 30-days non-chargeable leave, or 15 days non-chargeable leave and transportation to the closest CONUS port of entry. For the latter two options, the entitlement must be used within the first six months of entering your extension. If mission requirements preclude the entitlement's use, your commander may authorize an exception to defer the leave prior to the end of your 12-month extension; however, you must request and obtain approval of the deferment before the first six months is complete. Failure to do so will void your entitlement. Leave and travel entitlements are only for the military member under OTEIP. In Place Consecutive Overseas Tour. This is where you agree to complete another full tour of 24 months for unaccompanied Airmen or 36 to 48 months for accompanied Airmen. The primary benefit in receiving an IPCOT is that you and your command-sponsored dependents receive a travel entitlement. The entitlement is round-trip airfare to your home of record or another location which does not exceed the cost of travel to your HOR. You can use the entitlement upon entering your IPCOT; the only restriction is that you use the entitlement prior to the end of your approved IPCOT. It's important to note any leave you take in conjunction with IPCOT leave travel is chargeable leave. High School Senior Assignment Deferment. As a military member stationed overseas, you may apply for a DEROS extension to accommodate the completion of your dependent's high school senior year. Additional options are maintaining your original DEROS and selecting a DEROS extension from one to 36 months. Know service retainability requirements. If you elect to maintain your original DEROS, then you must have at least 12 months remaining in the Air Force to receive an assignment; any assignment. For example, if your DEROS is May 2010 then you must have a date of separation equal to or greater than May 2011. To maintain an Indefinite DEROS you must have at least eight months of service retainability at all times. If you apply for a DEROS extension (OTEIP and HSSAD included) or IPCOT you must have service retainability equal to or greater than your new DEROS date. You have 30 days from DEROS approval to obtain service retainability, and failure to do so could result in cancellation of your DEROS extension or IPCOT. Know the Commander in Chief, United States Air Force in Europe DEROS extension policy. Unaccompanied Airmen can stay at their base for up to five years. Accompanied Airmen can stay up to seven years with only squadron commander and HQ AFPC approval. All requests that exceed these timelines must be approved by your wing commander. Supervisors at all levels should counsel their troops on the advantages and disadvantages to staying at their base past these timelines. The bottom line is that you need to consider career growth and progression prior to applying for any extension. For more information, click here or visit your local personnel office.