AF Form 3595-1: 70 Year Length of Service Certificate

AF Form 3595-1: 70 Year Length of Service Certificate – Reaching 70 years of dedicated federal service is an extraordinary milestone that few achieve. For foreign national (non-U.S.) civilian employees supporting the United States Air Force, the Department of the Air Force recognizes this rare accomplishment with the official AF Form 3595-1, titled the United States Air Force 70 Year Length of Service Certificate (foreign national employees only).

This specialized certificate honors long-term loyalty, dedication, and contributions to the Air Force mission by foreign national employees, who play vital roles at U.S. installations worldwide, particularly overseas.

What Is AF Form 3595-1?

AF Form 3595-1 is the official certificate issued by the United States Air Force to recognize 70 years of creditable federal service specifically for eligible foreign national civilian employees. It is part of a series of length-of-service (LOS) recognition certificates.

The standard AF Form 3595 serves U.S. civilian employees, while the -1 variant is tailored for foreign nationals, reflecting differences in how service is computed or presented for non-U.S. personnel.

This form belongs to a broader family of LOS certificates, including:

  • AF Form 3589 / 3589-1 (10 years)
  • AF Form 3590 / 3590-1 (20 years)
  • AF Form 3591 / 3591-1 (30 years)
  • AF Form 3592 / 3592-1 (40 years)
  • AF Form 3593 / 3593-1 (50 years)
  • AF Form 3594 / 3594-1 (60 years)
  • AF Form 3595 / 3595-1 (70 years)

These recognitions typically include a certificate and, for earlier milestones, a lapel pin. Higher milestones like 70 years receive formal presentation, often during a ceremony.

Who Is Eligible for the 70-Year Length of Service Certificate?

Eligibility for AF Form 3595-1 is limited to foreign national (non-U.S. citizen) civilian employees of the Department of the Air Force who have completed 70 years of creditable service.

Creditable service is generally based on the employee’s Service Computation Date (SCD) for Leave, which includes:

  • All qualifying federal civilian service
  • Honorable active duty military service (where applicable)

The Air Force and Space Force recognize LOS at 5-year intervals up to 50 years, then at 10-year increments (60 and 70 years). Foreign national employees receive recognition for faithful service starting at 10 years, with additional awards every 5 years thereafter up to 70 years, depending on local command practices.

Note: This program applies to civilian employees, not active-duty military members (who receive different longevity awards, such as the Air and Space Longevity Service Award ribbon for every 4 years of service).

Purpose and Significance of the Award

The 70-Year Length of Service Certificate acknowledges exceptional tenure and the profound impact of an employee’s sustained contributions to the Air Force mission. Such longevity reflects deep commitment, institutional knowledge, and reliability—qualities that strengthen U.S. Air Force operations globally.

For foreign national employees supporting U.S. forces overseas, this recognition highlights their role as key partners in mission success. Presentations often occur in formal ceremonies, reinforcing morale and appreciation from leadership.

Governing policy appears in DoDI 1400.25-V451 as implemented by DAFI 36-1004 (Managing the Civilian Recognition Program), which outlines prescribed forms for LOS certificates and related civilian awards.

How to Obtain or Request AF Form 3595-1?

  1. Supervisor or Civilian Personnel Section (CPS) Initiation — The process typically begins with the employee’s supervisor or local Civilian Personnel Office/Section when the service milestone approaches, based on official personnel records (e.g., SF-50 equivalents or local service computation data).
  2. Verification of Service — The CPS or appropriate HR office verifies the total creditable service using the employee’s SCD.
  3. Preparation and Approval — The certificate is prepared using the official AF Form 3595-1. Higher-level milestones may involve wing, group, or command-level signatures and coordination with AFPC (Air Force Personnel Center) for certain recognitions.
  4. Presentation — The certificate is presented by the appropriate commander or civilian leader during an appropriate ceremony, often alongside other tokens of appreciation.

For detailed procedures, refer to your local Civilian Personnel Section or the latest version of DAFI 36-1004. Supervisors of foreign national employees should consult command-specific guides (e.g., FN-Supervisors-Guide-to-Awards) for nomination and presentation protocols.

Download AF Form 3595-1

You can download the official AF Form 3595-1 (fillable or printable version) directly from the Air Force e-Publishing site:

Always use the most current version from the official e-Publishing portal to ensure compliance. Local commands may provide pre-filled templates or specific formatting instructions.

The 70-year certificate is part of the broader Department of the Air Force Civilian Recognition Program, which includes monetary awards, time-off awards, honorary awards (such as the Exemplary Civilian Service Award), and other LOS milestones. Foreign national employees may also qualify for letters of appreciation/commendation or retirement recognition if applicable.

For full details on eligibility, processing, and approval authorities, consult DAFI 36-1004 (available on the Air Force e-Publishing website).

Honoring a Lifetime of Service

Achieving 70 years of service is a testament to unwavering dedication. The AF Form 3595-1 stands as an official, enduring symbol of the U.S. Air Force’s gratitude toward its foreign national civilian workforce.

If you are a supervisor, HR professional, or employee approaching this milestone, contact your local Civilian Personnel Section promptly to begin the recognition process. Official guidance ensures the award is processed correctly and presented with the dignity it deserves.

Keywords: AF Form 3595-1, 70 year length of service certificate, Air Force foreign national employees, AFI 36-1004, DAF civilian awards, length of service recognition, Air Force civilian service certificate.

This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available Department of the Air Force publications as of 2023–2026. Always verify the latest policy with official Air Force channels or your servicing Civilian Personnel Office, as procedures may be updated.