Mirrored Promotion System in SNCO Tier
How many times in your military career has someone got promoted to Master Sergeant (MSgt) and you thought to yourself, “How did they get selected to become a Senior Noncommissioned Officer (SNCO)?” How did the current process fail so miserably it permitted someone, who is so absent in many of the whole person concept ideals, to advance to the rank of MSgt. The Air Force Enlisted Force structure is comprised of three distinct and separate tiers. Each tier correlates to increase levels of education, training, leadership and managerial responsibilities. The SNCO tier consists of MSgt, Senior Master Sergeant (SMSgt) and Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt). Therefore, why do we not hold promotion eligible Technical Sergeants competing to enter the SNCO tier to the same promotion selection process required to SMSgt and CMSgt? It is the position of SNCO Academy, Class 12-D, Flight 28, that the current promotion selection process must be standardized throughout the entire SNCO tier; therefore selection to MSgt must mirror the promotion process to SMSgt and CMSgt. This would ensure fully qualified individuals who have the necessary skills to fulfill leadership roles while simultaneously eliminating those individuals that make rank because they have been in the Air Force long enough to wait out the system. The Air Force will continue to face increasing demands with significant fiscal constraints as the drawdown from two wars closes and the need for strong leaders and managers will be at an all time high. Today’s SNCOs must possess the necessary leadership skills to be able to get the job done with limited resources. This paper will address the current Air Force promotion system and its most significant shortfall, the benefits of adding a promotion board factor, and its successes within our sister services. A MSgt selection board will enhance the existing promotion system by identifying the most qualified SNCOs.
The Air Force...