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It is my experience that in about one year from graduating Tech school an Airman Basic (E1) will have attained the rank of Senior Airmen (E4); but still be far from the Professional Airmen that they should be. should the AF extend the TIG promotion requirements of the Junior Enlisted?
Posted in these groups: 
Promotions
Promotions
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 52
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In my opinion yes. We just had an SSgt make TSgt on his first enlistment. This is because the powers that be thought reducing TIG/TIS points on WAPS would fix our leadership problems. I'm not saying people that make rank quick don't deserve it but they are going to be set up for failure in today's Air Force where we are doing jobs that were held by SNCOs not that long ago. The expectations placed on them will be overwhelming and will ruin their careers if they fail to meet them. Get ready to start seeing a lot of 8 yr MSgts who's only experience is going to school and volunteering. They won't have dealt with many personnel issues and won't know how to mentor the junior grades. Sorry to sound so negative, I really would like to have faith in the new system but after seeing it in action I'm less than impressed. Rant over.
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MSgt Jeff Greene
IMO promotions for some come to fast. If you are a test taker you can make rank quickly but have not learned how to be an effective NCO. For the record, I am very much old school (1966-1991, retired MSgt). I saw many young people get promoted before they were ready to assume the duties of an NCO and especially SNCO status. Most eventually grew into the position with another SNCO providing mentorship along the way. Some never made it. As always, it depends on the person.
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CMSgt Lloyd French
There are 3 secrets to successful promotion testing:
1) study: Study (READ) your PFE materials. The answers to test questions come just about word for word out of there.
2) Study: STUDY ALL of your SKT materials. Just because you're good at YOUR job, it doesn't mean you know all there is to know about ALL of the job.
3) STUDY: Study your TEST when you take it. Get a feel for how the questions are asked and where the questions seem to concentrate.
It took me a few years to break the "code" but I shot up through the ranks after that. People get promoted quickly in all the services. They learn to lead from those who mentor them. Be a mentor, share your experience (good and bad)...they'll learn from it.
1) study: Study (READ) your PFE materials. The answers to test questions come just about word for word out of there.
2) Study: STUDY ALL of your SKT materials. Just because you're good at YOUR job, it doesn't mean you know all there is to know about ALL of the job.
3) STUDY: Study your TEST when you take it. Get a feel for how the questions are asked and where the questions seem to concentrate.
It took me a few years to break the "code" but I shot up through the ranks after that. People get promoted quickly in all the services. They learn to lead from those who mentor them. Be a mentor, share your experience (good and bad)...they'll learn from it.
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MSgt (Join to see)
So what happens when everyone breaks the code and promotes extremely early at the same time all the experienced mentors retire? I'll tell you...they don't get the training and experience they need to preform the duties required. This has a systematic effect on the younger generations looking to them for guidance and receiving horrible advice. This is the current status of our Air Force but how do we correct this? I say we stop giving away E3 for signing up 6 yrs, it's not necessary anymore. We also should bring back time in grade points because they matter! We should also get rid of this "up or out" mentality. If someone is comfortable being a SrA or SSgt for 20 yrs let them do it!!! We need skilled technicians and not everyone is cut out to be a leader. These changes might help get us back on track. Rant over.
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TSgt James Warfield
CMSgt Mickey Wright - Sorry Chief I didn't see where the person was complaining about not getting promoted but by the lack of experience to be a higher position. I already posted about the years I was so I'll let you look at that. However I remember some people who got promoted quickly who where book smart, but when it came to applying it they couldn't and they really caused a lot harm.
Also has it changed on how many can can get promoted. When I was in, it depended on field you were in. I was in field at the time where there where no pipe line students rank started at E-4, however for the first 5 years I was in that filed one had to get almost ace the test to get promoted ( due to the time in grade, Time in service, awards and decs. and of course performance reports.) Also truly disagree with you, there are those due know the material yet have a hard time taking test.
Since getting out decades ago, went to college, found out I was ADHD, back then it was not talked about much. Bottom line, I learn how control my ADHD and take test, to the point I even kept a I was on the honors list.
Also has it changed on how many can can get promoted. When I was in, it depended on field you were in. I was in field at the time where there where no pipe line students rank started at E-4, however for the first 5 years I was in that filed one had to get almost ace the test to get promoted ( due to the time in grade, Time in service, awards and decs. and of course performance reports.) Also truly disagree with you, there are those due know the material yet have a hard time taking test.
Since getting out decades ago, went to college, found out I was ADHD, back then it was not talked about much. Bottom line, I learn how control my ADHD and take test, to the point I even kept a I was on the honors list.
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I was under the impression the Air Force had the slowest promotion rates actually...
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SPC (Join to see)
MAJ (Join to see) - in my experience even when we are given a leadership position, CPL is more of a show rank than anything meaningful, they still get treated as a specialist by their superiors and hung out to dry like an NCO when they mess up.
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SSgt Jimmy Jackson
Think I was an E-4 for ever. Back when it had E-4 Senior Airman and E-4 Sgt. One was non-NCO the other was NCO
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MSgt Jeff Bailey
Used to be the slowest, but not sure if that's the case anymore. While many complain about fast promotions, no one is talking about why these promotions are possible. We must have some serious retention problems in the mid-NCO ranks for 50+ percent to get promoted every year. If we don't fix this problem, the trend will continue.
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It's not a one size fits all situation. When I enlisted, was 21 and had 3 years of college under my belt. I was more mature and better educated than many of the E5s in the unit. I came in as an E3 and got below the zone to SRA within 6-8 months. I was the lead surveyor on several construction projects. On one occasion I took over and designed a small arms firing range at Shaw AFB when the LT in charge came down with appendicitis.
So I am somewhat ambivalent on TIG requirements. On one hand, I think there should be a requirement in order to give a person time to learn and grow. But on the other hand, if the person is capable of (or actually doing) the responsibilities of the next higher rank, they deserve to be promoted.
So I am somewhat ambivalent on TIG requirements. On one hand, I think there should be a requirement in order to give a person time to learn and grow. But on the other hand, if the person is capable of (or actually doing) the responsibilities of the next higher rank, they deserve to be promoted.
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WO1 (Join to see)
Fun story, coming from Shaw as a CE guy 7 years they put forced air ventilation at Shaw, and that thing is constantly broke. If you have not been there in recent years, they have really been transforming Sumter and the base has undergone huge developments IMO, minus the flight line area.
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