Officer educational records unmasked

  • Published
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Air Force leaders announced April 13 that promotion boards will once again consider officers’ educational progress as they advance in rank.

In a joint letter released from Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne and Air Force Chief of Staff T. Michael Moseley, they state, “Our expeditionary Air Force will need all the cultural, political and technical skills available.”

Including an officer’s educational level reverses a decision the Air Force made a few years ago. Educational records were masked because some Airmen were using their benefits to pursue degrees not relevant to Air Force duties, they said.

“Over time, earning a post-graduate degree deteriorated into a method to increase the likelihood of promotion,” the letter reads.

The decision to unmask the educational records comes from an unforeseen adverse effect from the previous masking decision.

“Unfortunately, many others stopped pursuing degrees that would have benefited themselves and the Air Force. Also, boards were unable to see which Airmen were meeting their full potential," they said.

“Both of us want to encourage Airmen, not discourage them, from pursuing advanced education,” the letter reads. “There are several avenues to obtain degrees, and the Air Force is developing others. Our nation needs our best and demands nothing less.”