Process Demands High Standards

The promotion process demands high standards and a fair and equitable review. Records must clearly demonstrate to the board that the officers are fully qualified to handle the responsibilities of the next higher grade.

The Secretary of the Air Force sets a promotion quota for each grade. Members of the ANG and AFR compete in separate categories with separate quotas. The quotas are based on the needs of the ANG and USAFR and cannot be exceeded.

Therefore, to be competitive, officers must be among the very best and must clearly demonstrate the potential to perform successfully in the next higher grade.

Proven Performers in Demand

The importance of a strong, consistent pattern of performance, appropriately documented in the selection record, cannot be overemphasized. The proven performer is in demand for the most responsible jobs, and breadth of experience is enhanced by the jobs held.

Rating officials, and those in the chain of command, must document the officer’s efforts and recognize successes and deficiencies. Beyond that point, potential promotees control each of the whole-person factors. They must demonstrate the initiative and build the record necessary to show they can serve successfully in the next higher grade.

Active participation in Guard or Reserve activities shows dedication. If pertinent information is missing from an officer selection record, a letter to the board president highlighting the activity is appropriate.

Invest Time in Your Career

Officers meeting a promotion selection board must meet eligibility requirements based on date of rank/time in grade. Please note, certain categories of the Individual Ready Reserve will meet mandatory promotion boards. For more information please visit myPers under Officer Promotions.

Preparation for promotion should begin today rather than just before the board convenes. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure their Officer Selection Record is accurate and up to date.

Officers are encouraged to get a copy of their officer pre-selection brief by contacting their MPS and ensuring its accuracy.

Personnel Records Display Application (PRDA) contains the electronic versions of documents extracted from the PRDA, the official system for record and is where documents come from for promotion boards.

Officers can view their documents contained in ARMS by accessing PRDA on the Air Force Portal, https://www.my.af.mil/faf/FAF/fafHome.jsp.

The Electronic Officer Selection Record (eOSR) application will document discrepancies found between the Military Personnel Data System and ARMS, however officers have the best insight and understanding of what their records should reflect. This is why officers should review their eOSR in myPers and PRDA on a regular basis.

If information is missing or is in error, officers must ensure the required changes are made well prior to the board convening date and if appropriate, officers should write a meaningful one-page letter to the board president.

Errors left uncorrected could have a negative effect on promotion opportunity. You will not be considered by a Special Selection Board (SSB) if, in exercising reasonable diligence, you should have discovered an error or omission in your record and could have taken timely corrective action.

To learn how to electronically submit a letter to the board, visit myPers under the “Officer Promotion” heading on the right side of the screen. To submit the letter electronically, follow the instructions “Writing Letters to a Promotion Selection Board.”

Officers who would like to know what factors the boards considered and how their record compared to the most recent selection boards can visit myPers. Once there, select “officer promotion.” The “recent board statistics” are listed for each rank below the calendar year for the board. They are published approximately one week after public release.

Once selected for promotion, officers can retrieve a copy of their promotion orders from their servicing MPF or by submitting a new request through myPers.

Accelerated Promotions

An accelerated promotion process applies to Reserve of the Air Force officers. An officer on a promotion list as a result of selection for promotion by a ResAF mandatory promotion board (I/APZ) or active duty selection board (10 U.S.C. Chapter 36), Special Board or SSB, may be promoted to fill a vacant position (10 U.S.C. Section 14308).

Promotions under this program maintain a balanced force by giving commanders the means to nominate exceptionally well-qualified candidates to pin-on in an accelerated manner (AFI 36-2504, chap 6, para 6.5). Some of the key eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Selected for promotion to major, lieutenant colonel, or colonel by an I/APZ promotion board
• Have an outstanding record, with at least 50 participation points as of the most recent R/R year posted to the officer’s retirement account
• Nominated by member’s commander and endorsed by the senior rater in the rating chain
• Senior rater can request acceleration to take place at public release or Senate confirmation, whichever is later, as the pin on date, or any date prior to projected pin on
• Meets the eligibility criteria outlined by the Position Vacancy program (AFI 36-2504, ch 2)
  • If selected by a Position Vacancy Board, accelerated promotion is not permitted
  • Nominee must be the incumbent, not overage, of a valid, fully funded (for a year), higher graded position
• To submit an accelerated promotion, please refer to the published ARPCM board release message for specific instructions. For ANG specific acceleration requests, please contact NGB/A1.