Nine recently selected for promotion to E-8 must now re-compete

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. David Jablonski
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Personnel officials are correcting circumstances that recently led to nine master sergeants being selected for promotion to senior master sergeant in the incorrect Control Air Force Specialty Code during the 05E8 cycle.

The problem began when 46 Airmen who were attending the First Sergeant Academy reached the E-8 promotion eligibility cut-off date of Sept. 30.

One Air Force instruction stated those people should be considered members of the first sergeant career field once they departed their former duty station to attend training. Another instruction stated they are not really first sergeants until they graduate from the course.

Air Force Instruction 36-2101, "Classification of Military Personnel," states the CAFSC effective date for retraining through a formal school, including special duty, is equal to one of the following: the date departed current duty station; the date departed on temporary duty to accomplish required training, either en-route to the new duty station or when returning to the present duty station; or the date assigned duty, if there is not a permanent change of station or assignment.

Conversely, AFI 36-2113, "First Sergeant," states the CAFSC of first sergeant is awarded upon graduation of the First Sergeant Academy. AFI 36-2101 should have taken precedence, officials said.

Three of those Airmen had their Air Force Specialty Codes correctly changed and competed as first sergeants. The other 43 mistakenly competed under their old AFSC.

"Due to conflicting AFIs, there were individuals who should have been promoted and were not, while others should have been considered in a different category," said Maj. Gen. Tony Przybyslawski, Air Force Personnel Center commander. "We have already taken action to correct the conflicting instructions, provide recourse to those affected and ensure the enlisted promotion process remains consistent and fair."

All affected members have been notified of the error. All 43 members who were considered in the incorrect AFSC will be considered for promotion during the next supplemental board in May. The supplemental board results will be released in June.

Individuals in other AFSCs who would have been in line for promotions will have their status corrected and will be promoted, as they should have been, officials said.

"This situation underscores the integrity of the enlisted promotion process," said Lt. Gen. Roger Brady, Air Force deputy chief of staff for personnel. "We discovered a discrepancy in our instructions, and we fixed it."