Promotion Test Study Info
Promotion Timeline and Reference Information Below
1. Promotion Eligibility & Significant Dates
To verify eligibility, reference DAFI36-2502_DAFGM2023-01, Department of the Air Force Instruction 36-2502, Enlisted Airman Promotion and Demotion Programs.
Significant Dates of Promotion for RegAF and USSF
The following table outlines the cycle designations, promotion eligibility cutoff dates (PECD), and effective promotion dates by grade:
| If the promotion is to the grade of | Cycle Designation | Promotion Eligibility Cutoff Date (PECD) | The Promotion Date is |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amn/Spc2 A1C/Spc3 SrA/Spc4 |
N/A | N/A | The day of the month on which time-in-grade and Promotion Eligibility Status requirements are met. |
| SSgt/Sgt | E-5 | 31 Mar | 1 Sep through 1 Aug (See Note 1) |
| TSgt | E-6 | 31 Jan | 1 Aug through 1 Jul (See Note 1) |
| MSgt | E-7 | 30 Nov | 1 Aug through 1 Jul (See Note 1) |
| SMSgt | E-8 | 30 Sep | 1 Apr through 1 Mar (See Note 1) |
| (USSF) SMSgt | E-8 | 30 Sep | 1 Jan through 1 Dec (See Note 2) |
| CMSgt | E-9 | 31 Jul | 1 Jan through 1 Dec (See Note 1) |
2. Senior Airman (SrA) Below the Zone (BTZ)
BTZ promotions apply to A1Cs who meet or exceed the designated time-in-service (TIS), time-in-grade (TIG), and skill-level requirements.
-
Quotas: Based on 15% of all eligible personnel.
-
Unit Sizes: A Large Unit consists of 7 or more eligibles; a Small Unit consists of 6 or fewer eligibles.
BTZ Key Dates & Processing Cycles
The processing and promotion windows are structured by quarter:
| Quarter | Processing Month | 4-Yr Enlistees (TAFMSD: DOR Required) | 6-Yr Enlistees (DOR Required) | Reg Promotion | Central Base Board | BTZ Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | JAN-FEB | OCT-DEC, FEB-APR | JUN-AUG | OCT-DEC | MAR | APR-JUN |
| 2nd | APR-MAY | JAN-MAR, MAY-JUL | SEP-NOV | JAN-MAR (Following year) | JUN | JUL-SEP |
| 3rd | JUL-AUG | APR-JUN, AUG-OCT | DEC-FEB | APR-JUN (Following year) | SEP | OCT-DEC |
| 4th | OCT-NOV | JUL-SEP, NOV-JAN | MAR-MAY | JUL-SEP (Following year) | DEC | JAN-MAR |
3. Testing Windows & Study Materials
Official study resources can be found on the USAF Enlisted Promotion Study Guides website.
Finding CDCs, SKT, and EPRRC References
-
E-5 References: Access specific study links via Study Guides eWorld E-5 References.
-
How to know what to study: Select the "=" menu icon on the right side of the portal to locate the EPRRC (Enlisted Promotions References & Requirements Catalog) for your current promotion year and grade.
Annual Testing Windows
-
E-5: Tested May to June; promotion announcements are released in August.
-
E-6: Tested February to April; promotion announcements are released in July.
4. EPB Point Calculations for Promotion
Points are calculated using the Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS) or board scores depending on the target grade.
Promotion Recommendation Forced Distribution Scores
| Top Promotion Recommendation | 2nd Promotion Recommendation | 3rd Promotion Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Promote Now: 250 points | Promote Now: 20 points | Promote Now: 15 points |
| Must Promote: 220 points | Must Promote: 15 points | Must Promote: 10 points |
| Promote: 200 points | Promote: 10 points | Promote: 5 points |
| Not Ready Now: 0 points | Not Ready Now: 0 points | Not Ready Now: 0 points |
Note on Evaluation Systems: * Promotion to SSgt through TSgt: WAPS uses points up to the last 3 TIG forced distribution reports.
- Promotion to MSgt through CMSgt: The central selection board reviews the last 5 years of EPBs from the PECD. Points for forced distribution reports are replaced by an overall board score.
5. Additional Study Resources & Planning
Utilize external tools to supplement your preparation and structure a study layout:
-
Free PDG Practice: FreePDG
-
MCM Guides: MCM Guides Air Force
-
Mobile Apps: PDG Promote iOS App or PDG Promote Google Play App
-
Study Plan Methodology: Review the Victoria University guide on building an effective study plan.