Air Force to drop below-the-zone promotions for officers

GOOD...it is about time. I am tired of seeing folks get promoted early because they are in the right job at the right time with the right rater and those that are in the trenches working the rub everyday get overlooked and meet their boards on time and are two years behind the others. I do think that promotions per year group are still warranted though. Meet your boards with your year groups as all of you have been in for the same time frames and have had the time to develop.

Maj Marty Hogan Lt Col Charlie Brown 1stSgt Glenn Brackin
Cpl Craig Morton SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth COL Mikel J. Burroughs
LTC Stephen C. CPL Dave Hoover PO3 Bob McCord
Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Sgt Wayne Wood PVT James Strait
SFC Jack Champion MSgt David Hoffman MSgt Stephen Council
SGT Elizabeth Scheck PO1 H Gene Lawrence 1SG Steven Imerman SGT Steve McFarland SSgt Terry P.

Interesting move. I grew up in Strategic Air Command (SAC) and they were in the process of phasing out spot promotions when I was a new Lieutenant. While different from below-the-zone promotions in that they could be taken away at any time or if one left SAC they were a way of rewarding superior performance. I have no proof, but I believe as SAC was phasing out spot promotions, the Air Force began ramping up below-the-zone promotions for the exact same reason, rewarding superior performance. Unfortunately below-the-zone promotions grew into the monster that we see today in that if one does not have one they are viewed as less than qualified. For the same reasons that SAC eliminated spot promotions, I think it is a good move to eliminate below-the-zone promotions but I have to wonder about the incentive to go above and beyond for future personnel.

About time!