AF selects 16,506 for promotion to staff sergeant Published Aug. 25, 2016 By Kat Bailey Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Out of the 39,064 eligible senior airmen, 16,506 were selected for promotion to staff sergeant, Air Force officials announced Aug. 25. The overall selection rate was 42.25 percent, with an average selectee overall score of 360.88. Officials selected 2,318 Airmen with a promote now recommendation for 14.04 percent of the total selects; 5,762 Airmen with a must promote recommendation for 34.91 percent of the total selects; and 8,426 Airmen with a promote recommendation for 51.05 percent of the total selects. Within the promotion recommendation groups, 98.6 percent of eligible Airmen with a promote now recommendation were selected, 88.2 percent of those in the must promote recommendation group were selected and 29.1 percent in the promote recommendation group were selected. This matches the intent of those with a promote now receiving a "significant advantage over their peers," those with a must promote receiving an "advantage over their peers," and those with a promote receiving a rating "relative to their peers." According to Air Force officials, the percentages show that the system is highlighting top performers while still affording opportunities to high-performing Airmen with a promote recommendation. These results continue to achieve the intended purpose of the new enlisted evaluation system. The staff sergeant promotion list is available on the Air Force Portal and myPers. Airmen can also access their score notices on the virtual MPF via the secure applications page. Selectees will be promoted in order of promotion sequence number beginning in September. For more information about Air Force personnel programs, go to the myPers website. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following the instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website.