E-4

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The 502nd Air Base Wing Joint Base-San Antonio Below The Zone Central Base Board selected Airman 1st Class Jorge Grullon-Rodriguez, 690th Network Support Squadron, and Airman 1st Class Mitchell Gorham, 688th Information Operations Wing, for promotion ahead of their peers Sept. 14. Below the zone is a competitive early promotion program offered to Airmen in the grade of Airman First Class/E-3. This early promotion opportunity is restricted to elite Airmen who stand out from their peers and perform duties at a level above their current rank. A "below the zone" promotion means Airmen are able to sew on a new stripe six months earlier than their original date of rank. This is a benefit financially and in responsibility, but it also affects Airmen's testing dates which is required for the next promotion to staff sergeant.