Promotion changes give deserving Airmen chance to excel

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Buffy Galbraith
  • 919th SOW Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  Effective Jan. 1, 2008, changes to Air Force Instruction 36-2502, Chapter 4, Airman Promotion Program, were implemented. 

"The changes made are consistent to streamlining processes, and promotions are one of those processes," said Master Sgt. Terry Mioduszewski, 919th Mission Support Flight career enhancement chief. 

One change to the policy will ensure that enlisted servicemembers up to the rank of staff sergeant are promoted as soon as they are eligible. 

"The old policy stated that Airmen had to wait until the first day of the month following eligibility," said Staff Sgt. Shawana Veals, 919th MSF career enhancement assistant chief. "Now the changes ensure that members are promoted right away." 

"Being promoted right away is beneficial in many ways, but members must also show that they are deserving of the promotion," said Sergeant Mioduszewski. "Before, enlisted promotion instructions allowed members to have no more than nine unexcused absences. The new policy states that there can be no unexcused absences in the previous 12-month period." 

Also, in order to be considered for promotion to master sergeant through chief master sergeant, members must now have 24 months retainability. Previously, Air Force Reserve Command Instruction 36-2102, Reserve Service Commitment, directed members to obtain retainability after promotion. 

Another promotion program affected by policy changes is the Promotion Enhancement Program. 

"PEP boards used to be held twice a year," said Sergeant Mioduszewski. "Now, there will only be one board per year." 

"This allows members more time to put together a more powerful package to highlight accomplishments over the previous year," said Sergeant Veals. "A more powerful package, of course, gives servicemembers a greater edge over the competition at the higher levels." 

Enlisted members aren't the only ones affected by promotion policy changes. The Air Force recently approved changes to AFI 36-2504, Officer Promotion, Continuation and Selective Early Removal in the Reserve of the Air Force, aligning Reserve accelerated promotion requirements and position vacancy requirements for wing officers. 

"In a nutshell, any officer requesting an accelerated promotion must meet the same requirements as their counterparts meeting a position vacancy promotion board," said Sergeant Mioduszewski. 

Officers seeking both promotion types must be in a valid and funded position that will remain funded on the unit manning document for at least one year after the board's convening date, she added. 

Whether officer or enlisted, changes to the promotion policies affect all members. 

"Your promotion is up to you," said Sergeant Veals. "Make sure you have everything accomplished so that you can be promoted on time." 

Members interested in more information may contact the Career Enhancement Office at 883-6296.