KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — Longer assignments within U.S. Air Forces in Europe could be in the future for some airmen.

Airmen who volunteer for assignments at the larger bases in USAFE would spend a minimum of four years overseas, instead of the standard three, under a proposal aimed at increasing mission continuity and family stability, USAFE officials said.

If approved by the Defense Department, accompanied tours at USAFE’s main operating bases would increase from 36 months to 48 months, while unaccompanied tours would expand from 24 to 36 months, said Col. Doug Mullins, USAFE chief of readiness and integration.

The change would affect only airmen who have “asked to come to Europe,” Mullins said. “You volunteer for a longer assignment. If a person does not volunteer, and gets selected as a non-volunteer to come to Europe, they would go under the old rules. It wouldn’t impact anybody who is currently in Europe.”

The longer tour lengths, Mullins said, would be in place at five locations within USAFE: In Germany, Spangdahlem Air Base and Air Force installations in Kaiserslautern, including Ramstein Air Base and Vogelweh; Aviano Air Base, Italy; and RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall, in the United KingdomRead more here