High Year of Tenure


High Year of Tenure is a term used by the United States Armed Forces to describe the maximum number of years an enlisted member may serve before they must separate or retire. HYT is applicable to enlisted of all five military branches of the United States.
Officers are not subject to HYT, but are instead limited to statutory service limits by pay grade. See Defense Officer Personnel Management Act for officer information.
In the United States Army, soldiers will finish their enlistment contract if they exceed HYT unless they are reduced in rank.

History

On 1 August 2017, the U.S. Navy extended the HYT for active component sailors to 10 years from 8 years for third class petty officers, to 16 years from 14 years for second class petty officers, and to 22 years from 20 years for first class petty officers.
On 14 December 2017, the U.S. Navy announced that it will extend the HYT for seamen from its current 5 years to 6 years on 1 February 2018.

HYT dates

Personnel demoted to a lower grade are subject to the HYT date of the lower grade. Extensions to the HYT date can be obtained for various reasons such as personal hardships or base closures. HYT dates vary by rank/rate, as follows:
The USAF increased the HYT for E-4 through E-6 on 1 February 2019.
Pay grade







Coast Guard
E-15N/A468N/AN/A
E-25N/A468N/AN/A
E-35N/A6108N/A10
E-488101210810
E-514141620201216
E-620202222222020
E-724262424242224
E-826*322626262726
E-930**N/A3030303030

*First Sergeant/Master Sergeant has a HYT of 30 years.
**Command sergeants major and sergeants major serving in nominative positions where the CSM/SGM is rated by a general officer, member of the Senior Executive Service, or equivalent, or is serving as CSM at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy or as Executive Officer to the Sergeant Major of the Army are authorized to serve beyond 30 years total active service while serving in the position. The Vice Chief of Staff of the Army must approve exceptions for operational reasons.