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What if I arrive to the testing facility late or don’t show up at all?
Why does it take so long to release promotion selections when I tested months ago?
If I am selected for promotion to the rank of TSgt, can I retire on the same day that I pin on?
Can I put on TSgt even though I do not possess a 7-skill level?
I previously served as a recruiter, am I eligible for WAPS points?
Questions and Answers
Question: Do I have a better chance of getting promoted
through the regular process or through a supplemental promotion board?
Answer. Your best opportunity for being promoted is through the regular
board process. The January 1996 Supplemental Promotion Board considered 204
individuals for promotion and promoted 8 (3.9% rate). This rate is substantially
lower than the promotion selection rate during the normal selection process.
Therefore, it is very important to closely examine your promotion Data
Verification RIP (DVR) to ensure errors are not discovered after the promotion
board meets. Also review all enlisted performance reports to ensure the right
boxes are “x'd” (senior rater vs deputy, etc.).
Finally, follow-up aggressively on any pending decorations since a decoration,
which is approved after promotion selections are announced, may not be counted
for that promotion cycle.
Question: What is the significance of the promotion
eligibility cutoff date (PECD)? Do documents such as EPRs or decorations need to
be finalized and in my record by the PECD in order to count for promotion?
Answer: The PECD provides time to allow AFPC to screen promotion
selection folders for senior NCO boards to ensure all required documents are on
file. The PECD also allows a standard date to be used for calculating EPR,
decoration and other weighted promotion factors. Additionally, individuals
compete for promotion in the Air Force Specialty that they held on the PECD, not
an AFSC into which they may be retraining in to. While an EPR does not have to
be filed in the personnel record by the PECD, the closeout date of the EPR has
to be prior to the PECD. In the case of decorations, the close-out date has to
be prior to the PECD, and the decoration has to be approved by the final
approval authority prior to the date promotion selectees are determined. This is
necessary to prevent decorations from being submitted after the fact in order to
game the promotion system.
Question: Does the senior NCO promotion board get to review
USAF Supervisory Examination scores or other weighted factors?
Answer. No. The promotion panel views the promotion selection folder only
and does not have access to the USAFSE score; however, the board is provided a
personnel data RIP that shows Total Active Military Service Date, decorations,
and other personnel data.
Question: Since I test several months before the promotion
release date, why can't I find out immediately how well I scored on the tests?
Answer. The Air Force Personnel Center provided the following
clarification: "Questions are challenged all through the promotion cycle and
must be reviewed. The Air Force Occupational Management Squadron reviews each
question that is challenged on Promotion Fitness Examinations or Specialty
Knowledge Tests. Just before the selection phase of the promotion cycle, a final
score key with all deleted questions is made and all tests are scored.
Therefore, someone's score could be a "75" on the PFE in January and drop to a
"70" in June when the promotions are released."
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Question: Where do enlisted promotion quotas come from?
Answer: The number of enlisted members that can be promoted for each
grade every cycle is based on the total projected vacancies with allowances for
those people who get promoted but are lost through normal attrition. Air
Staff announces the number of people that can be selected (promotion quota) a
few days before selections are made. The Air Force Personnel Center enters the
quota into a computer where the Weighted Airman Promotion System scores are
stored. A computer program then distributes the quota equally based upon the
promotion eligible population within each Air Force Specialty Code. The computer
can select more than the target number if there are ties in cutoff scores. Once
the selection phase is completed and an actual number of “selectees" are
identified, the promotion selection rate is announced.
Question: what if I am deployed during the testing window?
Answer. Every effort will be made to test individuals prior to their departure.
If this cannot be arranged, then the member will be tested upon their return. If
the individual believes they are ready, they have the opportunity to test
immediately upon their return and possibly be considered with the initial
promotion release. If the member feels they are not ready to test, they are
authorized to receive additional study time. In this case, the member will most
likely be supplementally considered in the months following the initial release.
Check with your CSS or MPF for further information.
Question: Am I eligible to test for SSgt if I don’t
possess a 5-skill level?
Answer. Individuals who do not possess a 5-skill level in their primary AFSC (PAFSC)
are ineligible to test until awarded a 5-level and the effective date is on or
before the promotion cutoff date or if the commander authorizes a PAFSC skill
level waiver. Waivers are only authorized for reasons listed in AFI 36-2502,
Table 2.3. As a reminder, a skill level waiver does not constitute SKT
exemption. Skill level waivers and SKT exemptions are two completely different
actions. If you are approved for a skill level waiver, you will be required to
test PFE and SKT.
Question: I recently retrained but didn’t start my class
until after the cutoff date. Will I test PFE only?
Answer. The key here is the date you departed for school. Everyone competes for
promotion in his or her CAFSC. The effective date of change of your CAFSC for
retraining through a formal school is the date departed PCS, PCA, TDY enroute,
TDY or date assigned duty, if there isn’t a PCS or PCA. If you depart prior to
the PECD for the cycle you’re eligible for, you will test PFE only with the
option of taking the SKT in your new AFSC (if one is available). If you departed
after the PECD, you will compete in your previous CAFSC.
Question: Who is responsible for making sure that my study
references are correct?
Answer. You are! Not your unit WAPS monitor and not the MPF training or testing
office. If you study obsolete or incorrect material and then do poorly on your
SKT, you will not be authorized to test again. It’s your responsibility to
personally check the current edition of the WAPS Catalog. This publication is
available on the web at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/miltesting.
Question: Who do I compete against if I’m testing PFE
only?
Answer. If you are a retrainee and your new AFSC has an SKT, you’ll compete
against all other individuals who do not have to take the SKT in their CAFSC and
will be considered in promotion AFSC 00XXX or 00XXXX (for chronic critical
career fields). If you are a retrainee but your new AFSC does not have an SKT,
you’ll compete against the eligibles in your new AFSC. If your new career field
has an SKT, you may elect to take the SKT. However, the decision must be made
prior to testing and cannot be changed once you are administered the tests. The
SKT that you will be administered will be the SKT in your new career field.
Question: can I test PFE only if I work in a different
AFSC than my CAFSC?
Answer. No, all Airmen compete for promotion in their CAFSC held as of the PECD.
Personnel are only authorized to be used out of their CAFSC for up to 130 days
in a 12-month period. If you are working in a different AFSC, commonly known as
duty out of control, you are still required to test in your CAFSC.
Question: what if I arrive to the testing facility late
or don’t show up at all?
Answer. Unfortunately, you will need to report to your commander and explain why
you should be rescheduled and not declared ineligible for that cycle.
Some unfortunate reasons that might be excusable are:
• Serious documented accident/illness/injury to you or an immediate family
member
• Your car was stolen the morning you were to test and you can provide a police
report to prove it
Some unfortunate reasons that are not excusable are:
• You wrote the wrong date on your calendar
• You were in a traffic jam on the way to the testing facility
• You overslept
• You reported to the wrong building
• A train held you up and kept you from showing up on time
Question: what is a WAPS test compromise?
Answer. AFI 36-2605, Air Force Military Personnel Testing System, lists what
constitutes a test compromise. The following are some of the general rules
listed in this instruction that may serve as a basis for punitive or
administrative actions or both. This list is not comprehensive. It is your
responsibility to know what is and what isn’t a compromise. Think of it this
way, if you have any doubt that something may be a compromise of test or study
material, then it probably is.
• Air Force members (active duty, ANG, Reserve, and civilians under Air Force
authority) will not possess, reproduce, distribute, or communicate in any way
the contents of test material unless authorized by AFI 36-2605.
• Taking, reviewing, or having access to actual test material.
• Reviewing or having access to illegal study materials that reveal the specific
content of actual or suspected test material.
• Questioning examinees for the purpose of determining test content.
• Reproducing or copying any test material, in whole or part.
• Training that concentrates on “teaching the test” or that emphasizes
information known or believed to be on a specific test.
• Taking a test and claiming to be another examinee.
• Opening or tampering with any package containing CONTROLLED TEST MATERIAL.
• Reviewing or using any “highlighted” or marked study material or notes that
reflect actual or suspected test material that is shared between, used by, or
observed by more than one examinee or potential examinee or any unauthorized
individual.
• Discussing actual test material or the specific contents of testable material
in such a way as to highlight actual or potential test material or test
questions in correspondence that is distributed.
• Removing testing material from the testing room.
• Group study. Group study is defined as any examinee or potential examinee
discussing or sharing in any form, information about actual test material or
marked/highlighted testable material with other examinees, potential examinees,
or other unauthorized individuals; or to study for a WAPS test with anyone else.
• Copying from another examinee’s answer sheet or asking another examinee for
help during a test administration period.
• Using equipment not authorized during test administration, such as an
unapproved calculator.
• Sharing marked or unmarked commercial study guides.
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Question: why does it take so long to release promotion
selections when I tested months ago?
Answer. Many people wonder why the test examiner can’t score their test upon
completion of the test. It’s not that easy. A period of time must be allowed for
the test takers to challenge the validity of test questions. This process
further ensures the Air Force is administering tests that are technically
accurate. If a test question is challenged, the Air Force Occupational
Measurement Squadron at Randolph AFB reviews the validity of each question.
Based on that review, questions can be deleted from the test. Just prior to the
select phase, a final score key with all deleted questions is made and at that
time all tests are scored. If the tests were scored and results given out once a
person finished testing, there’s a strong possibility the scores could change at
selection time. We don’t want to tell someone they scored a 75 on the PFE in
February, and then tell them they weren’t selected in June because their score
was really a 70 based on deleted questions. Rest assured, we’re doing our best
to get releases out as quickly as possible.
Question: what is this year’s cutoff score for my AFSC?
Answer. Although many people think that AFPC or HQ USAF determines each cutoff
score, the truth is that people competing for promotion really establish them.
HQ USAF determines how many enlisted members can be promoted each cycle based on
end strength and fiscal constraints, and then we apply that quota equally to
each AFSC based on the total eligible population. This is referred to as equal
selection opportunity (ESO). The total score of the last person selected within
the quota then becomes the cutoff score for promotion in that AFSC. Therefore,
cutoff scores are not determined until HQ AFPC actually runs the selection list,
just prior to public release.
Question: what does the word “tentative” mean?
Answer. The word “tentative,” when it refers to enlisted promotion
announcements, means your announced promotion status and promotion sequence
number are subject to verification against your Unit Personnel Record Group
maintained at your personnel flight. MPFs must make certain that the points
reflected by the data system are valid and supported with source documents. It
is important for you to remember that an erroneous tentative selection will
result in your removal from the selection list. When you think this through, you
should conclude that it’s the only right thing to do. Few people really want a
promotion they did not earn! Remember also that removal from a promotion list
that is “tentative” is both heartbreaking and embarrassing. Make sure that all
items for which you are credited on your DVR are officially documented in your
personnel record weeks in advance of the promotion selection date.
Question: what does the word “ineligible” mean?
Answer. If on or after the PECD an individual becomes ineligible for promotion,
in accordance with AFI 36-2502, Table 1.1, they cannot test, cannot be
considered if already tested, and their projected promotion sequence number
(line number) will be canceled/removed.
Question: if I receive a referral EPR with an overall
rating of “3” and it closed out after the PECD, am I eligible for promotion?
Answer. Individuals receiving a referral EPR or an overall rating of a “2” or
lower on or after the PECD are ineligible for promotion. In addition,
individuals remain ineligible for promotion until they receive an EPR with an
overall rating of “3” or higher that is not a referral.
Question: if I am selected to attend an air force
commissioning program, am I eligible for promotion under WAPS?
Answer. Airmen are ineligible for promotion under WAPS effective the first
class/training day of an Air Force commissioning program. A line number may be
reinstated if an Airman is eliminated from training through no fault of his or
her own.
Question: how are line numbers assigned?
Answer. The present method of determining Promotion Sequence Numbers (PSNs),
commonly referred to as line numbers, was developed from the basic military
philosophy of rank, precedence, and command. PSNs are assigned on the basis of
date of rank (DOR), total active federal military service (TAFMS), and date of
birth. Selectees are promoted in monthly increments as vacancies occur.
Question: what is my score notice used for?
Answer. The score notice is a report of how you fared in the promotion process.
It can also be used with promotion statistics (available within a week in VMPF
after public release of promotion selections) in the MPF to determine other
promotion information such as average TIS and TIG for selects and nonselects.
The only person authorized to review your score notice without your consent is
your immediate commander. However, you are encouraged to voluntarily share the
contents with other Air Force leaders, i.e., mentors and supervisors, in an
effort to gain insight from their experience. The ultimate decision as to
whether or not you should share score notice information with anyone other than
your commander is up to you.
Question: how do I get a copy of my score notice?
Answer. After promotion selections are released, everyone who tested and
remained eligible receives a score notice in VMPF. In all cases, if you do not
receive a score notice, visit the MPF, Career Enhancement Element, and they can
assist you in obtaining one. You may retrieve a score notice after selects are
made by visiting the Virtual MPF (VMPF) at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil.
Question: can I have my test rescored?
Answer. An individual’s request for verification of scores will only be honored
when there is substantial evidence that a scoring error may have occurred.
Requests for verification of scores based on identical test scores, same score
as previous year, and several identical scores within the same AFSC cannot be
honored. These are simply coincidences that can occur because of the many
thousands of tests given each year. Additionally, missing promotion by a narrow
margin has no bearing on the accuracy of test scores and will not be honored as
a reason for verification.
Furthermore, an individual’s belief that his or her test score does not reflect
the person’s study efforts is not sufficient. Prior to the release of every
promotion cycle, a random number of test answer sheets are hand scored to ensure
computer accuracy. There has never been an error since the inception of WAPS.
Question: when will my line number increment?
Answer. HQ USAF provides increment line numbers monthly based on the next
month’s projected vacancies and available funding. We normally publish the
increments around the 15th day of the current month for the next month. For
example, July 2007 increments should be received on or about 15 June 2007.
Contact your MPF, Customer Service Section, or inquire on the Web at
www.ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/eprom.
Question: if I am selected for promotion to the rank of
TSgt, can I retire on the same day that I pin on?
Answer. Because individuals selected for SSgt and TSgt do not incur an ADSC,
they may retire the first day of the month following the effective date of
promotion or extend their retirement date for up to 6 months. This means that if
your HYT date is on the same day that your line number is effective, you will
have to extend a minimum of 30 days to retire in the new grade.
Question: can I put on TSgt even though I do not possess
a 7-skill level?
Answer. Normally you will need a 7-skill level to pin on TSgt. However,
commanders may waive the 7-skill level requirement for TSgt selects (at the time
when PSN is announced for promotion) when the Airman has completed upgrade
requirements and is waiting to attend or currently enrolled in the 7-level
school. There is no other provision to allow you to pin on TSgt without a
7-skill level.
Question: I have a decoration that closed out prior to
the PECD but I didn’t receive it until after the promotion release. Can I apply
for supplemental promotion and what do I need to do?
Answer. Air Force policy stipulates that the following criteria must be met to
add an approved decoration to a promotion cycle:
a. The closeout date of the decoration must be on or before the PECD.
b. The DECOR 6 (RDP) date (this is the date the RIP was printed) must be before
the date selections for promotion are made.
c. If the decoration order is dated after the date selections were made,
documentation must be provided that establishes that the recommendation for
decoration was placed into official channels and recommended by the commander
prior to the date selections were made.
d. If the decoration was resubmitted for any reason (i.e., lost, disapproved,
amended, etc.), the resubmission request must have been placed into official
channels and recommended by the commander prior to the date selections for
promotion were made.
Although these criteria may seem strict, in order to be fair to the 135,000
individuals who compete each year for limited promotions, we must insist on the
same standard of proof for each request we review.
If the closeout date of the decoration is prior to the PECD and the decoration
order date is prior to the month selections are made, then the decoration will
automatically be considered. If the date of the order is after the date AFPC
made selections, you must submit a request through your MPF to HQ AFPC.
The following documentation is required to request supplemental promotion
consideration to add an approved decoration:
• Special order
• Citation
• DECOR 6 (both pages)
• Amendments, if any
• Recommendation for unit commander approving supplemental request
• Documentation when decoration was placed into official channels and when
recommended by the unit commander
• Actions you took to locate the missing document
Question: I previously served as a recruiter, am I
eligible for WAPS points?
Answer. Individuals performing duty in the 8R000 AFSC on 21 Jun 00 or later, who
have accrued 36 months in that duty on or before the PECD and are certified by
their Recruiting Service Commander are entitled to two WAPS points. The points
will count towards promotion when the 36-month certification date is on or
before the PECD. The two points remain a weighted factor for all future
promotion cycles regardless of AFSC. No additional points will be awarded for
additional years/tours served. Your DVR will not reflect the ribbon. If you
think you are eligible for the ribbon and it does not reflect on your score
notice, contact your Recruiting Service Commander’s Support Section and MPF
promotions office.
Question: I was selected supplementally for promotion but
my date of rank and effective date are incorrect. How do I get it corrected?
Answer. If the assigned promotion sequence number has already incremented, the
promotion file is set up to project an individual who has been supplementally
selected for promotion to the first of the month after they were considered for
promotion. The reason for this is it allows the MPF to conduct data verification
and get approval from your commander. No action is required on your part to make
this happen; AFPC will automatically consider and update your retroactive
promotion within 45 days of promotion.
Page Updated on: 21 March 2007