Officials announce virtual enlisted promotion release

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WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Beginning with the November 2007 chief master sergeant promotion announcement, Airmen will be able to access the results of their promotion consideration on their own from anywhere in the world.

Through the new virtual enlisted promotion release system, promotion lists will be posted on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site on the public release date for all Airmen to view.

"Our Airmen are ready for state-of-the-art personnel services delivery," said Lt. Gen. Roger A. Brady, deputy chief of staff for manpower and personnel. "We must break old paradigms and improve our personnel services delivery system to better enable our Airmen. The Air Force of the future will be different, and we must change to meet future demands."

The goal of virtual promotion release is to improve notification procedures and customer service, better safeguard promotion lists, and save money and manpower.

"Our Air Force's expeditionary environment makes contacting Airmen on a specific date and time challenging," said Chief Master Sgt. Mark Long, chief of enlisted evaluations and promotions policy. "We have Airmen all over the world, deployed or in-garrison, who wait from the time the list hits the base until the public release for someone to notify them. If no one contacts them, the eventual assumption is that they were not selected for promotion. This is not an efficient use of our Airmen's time."

Under the current system deployed commanders and personnel support for contingency operations teams must identify selectees assigned to their locations and try to ensure appropriate notification by the home station commanders.

While the goal is 100 percent notification of all selectees on the public release date and time, some Airmen still do not learn of their status until after the fact. The virtual promotion release will improve on-time notification and eliminate unnecessary work at deployed locations.

"Safeguarding the promotion lists is also an issue," Chief Long said. "It is well known that leaks occur, and many Airmen are notified of their status prior to the release date. This change will ensure all Airmen are treated fairly and learn of their status on the public release date and time."

"While eliminating advance notification is a philosophical shift, it does not eliminate the opportunity or expectation for those in leadership and supervisory positions to recognize their selectees," said Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. "This change also does not diminish the significance of the Airmen's achievement in being selected for promotion. Recognizing and celebrating promotions is part of our tradition and heritage, and the importance and significance remains as it is today. The only thing that is changed is who may be the first to know."

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