High retention leads to promotion board delay

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• LIEUTENANT GENERAL DARRELL D. JONES

High retention leads to promotion board delay

Posted 9/25/2012

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by Tech. Sgt. Shawn J. Jones
Air Force Public Affairs Agency

9/25/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Air Force officials announced they will delay the Line of the Air Force promotion board for captains commissioned in 2005 from its anticipated December 2013 date.

Air Force officials made the announcement Sept. 25 as they released the 2013 Selection Board Schedule. Record retention rates coupled with Defense Officer Personnel Management Act restrictions have resulted in a delay that will move this board into 2014.

The Line of the Air Force board, which does not affect judge advocates, chaplains or health profession officers, will be pushed back approximately nine months. The major's board for judge advocates will also be delayed for scheduling reasons, but this delay will not affect projected pin-on dates.

Public law prevents the Air Force from carrying a surplus of officers in grades of major, lieutenant colonel and colonel.

"If the Air Force were to continue at the pin-on rates common over the past several years, the total number of majors would surpass the total allowable by the law," said Lt. Col. Emi Izawa, chief of the Military Force Policy Division.

Izawa said the delay in the 2005 year group's promotion board does not drive a later pin-on date -- high retention did that. Delaying the board moves it closer to the start of that year group's pin-on date so the Air Force can comply with Office of the Secretary of Defense policy and congressional expectations. The 2014 Selection Board Schedule will be released in the summer of 2013.

"The delay is a product of high retention rates and public law and not related to force management programs or budget cuts," said Lt. Gen. Darrell Jones, Air Force deputy chief of staff for Manpower, Personnel, and Services. Jones emphasized the board delay will not make the affected officers less competitive for future promotion consideration throughout their career.

For more information about promotion board schedules and milestones, go to https://mypers.af.mil under active duty officer promotions.

Comments

9/26/2012 7:36:52 PM ET
While this isn't great news for those in the 2005 year group it's nothing new. My year group spent a full 7 years as Captains before pinning on Major. Deja vu all over again...

Lt Col, OCONUS

9/26/2012 3:32:17 PM ET
Sorry all...I misinterrupted the intent....yes you all are correct with the rates. Thanks for the vector. Dan...O's with the exception of Major have below the zonein the zoneabove the zone promotions. There are actually 3 chances..but yes they are slim chances.

Amazed, Lost in AMC

9/26/2012 2:38:54 PM ET
about 90 percent to Major after a 95 percent look at Capt these days still very high. There's a couple things that need to be looked at... the log jam at the top, HYT, fewer continuances being issued and so on. Stop sweating over officer vs. enlisted differences in promotion because it's truly apples and oranges.

JD, CVA

9/26/2012 1:52:56 PM ET
@Amazed-Those are the limits set by Congress in the AF in 2010 the promotion rate for E-9 was 22.04 percent.

Lee, Altus OK

9/26/2012 12:54:56 PM ET
@Amazed...you are quoting the percentage of enlisted that are allowed to serve in the top two grades. Those are not the promotion rates. The promotion rate to Chief last year was over 20 percent. This link should help out some. httpwww.afpc.af.milpromotionsindex.asp

Chief, Your Base

9/26/2012 12:46:51 PM ET
Amazed - Since we're talking about selection rates, Realist is correct, although his high of 40 percent is a bit low, alot of us still remember the Great SSgt Giveaway...a 67 percent selection rate. The last SMSgt board had a selection rate of 13.8 percent and the last CMSgt board had a selection rate of 22.1 percent.The 1 and 2 percent you refer to are the statutory limitations on the percentage of the enlisted force who can serve at any one time in the top two enlisted grades.

Steve, San Antonio TX

9/26/2012 12:31:46 PM ET
Realist and Amazed. You are missing one important point when you try to compare officer and enlisted promotion rates. For all practical purposes you have one shot at promotion to any officer rank. Enlisted however have a better shot each year because they get more points for TIS and TIG. So while promotion to SSgt may be only 40 percent any given year every SrA essentially has a 100 percent chance at making it some time in their career.

Dan, NM

9/26/2012 8:54:18 AM ET
Sorry...2 percent for SMSgt

Amazed, Lost in AMC

9/26/2012 8:29:44 AM ET
@ Realist for CMsgt it is 1percent and SMSgt it is percent

Amazed, Lost in AMC

9/25/2012 7:33:47 PM ET
How about this get rid of people with administrative actions in the first cut then let the board go through and promote the rest based on merit instead of holding up and punishing an entire year group.

john, Robins

9/25/2012 4:54:17 PM ET
Paul is spot on and take it a step further. Reduce promotion opportunity to 80 percent where it was until 1998. And go back to the upper end of DOPMA so Capts meet their primary Major board at the 10 to 11 yr point of commissioned service vs. the 8 yr point. Right now each Capt is essentially promoted BPZ to Major under current guidelines and some are not ready. Increased time to primary board and reduced promotion opportunity should pare down the selections to those most qualified.

Lloyd Cook Lt Col Ret, Colo

9/25/2012 4:44:16 PM ET
Close enough to 90 to call it 90 percent. Enlisted have to compete for promotions between 12 percent and 40 percent depending on the grade. Pay isn't close though is it

Realist, South

9/25/2012 4:35:27 PM ET
Wow if I read this correctly it looks like the 2005 year group folks will not meet their Maj's board until September of 2014

Capt Drew, San Antonio

9/25/2012 2:37:23 PM ET
Selection statistics in-the-promotion zone for majorLAF - 2,331 selected from 2,611 considered for 89.3 percent select rate

Allen Herritage, Hill AFB

9/25/2012 1:49:44 PM ET
The promotion rates aren't 90 percent on the Line boards. Not even close- especially over the last few years as people are getting passed over not on merit but as a force shaping tool.

Megan Z. , Hill AFB UT

9/25/2012 9:46:31 AM ET
Here's a crazy idea. How about we stop promoting 90 percent to Major? Then instead of slowing down those that are deserving, we can help cut out those that aren't.

Paul, Hanscom

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