Some AF Deployments Extended to 365 Days

Air Force officials are designating some positions in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility as 365-day extended deployments in order to provide stability and facilitate long-term relationships with host governments. The positions will span a wide spectrum of officer and enlisted career fields, mainly mid-level and up, said a spokesman. Selections will be made during the spring and summer assignment cycles with all assignments being in place by August 2005. The extended deployments will be treated as short-tour assignments. Lieutenant colonels and below who complete the tours will have priority for follow-on assignments, while Airmen will be exempt from AEF or other contingency deployments for six months following their return home. Family members also may be eligible for short-tour benefits. The new tour lengths currently affect about 200 key and critical operational and joint task force staff positions, officials said.