Air Force changes captain promotion process

  • Published
Air Force Personnel Center officials recently announced changes to the captain promotion process, which will affect Line of the Air Force officers.

Beginning January 2008, active-duty LAF officers will be considered for promotion to captain on a quarterly basis, instead of during the third quarter of each year.

"The change was initiated primarily to avoid the potential for officers being almost simultaneously notified for their promotion to captain, while also being identified by Force Shaping Boards for involuntary separation," said Autumn Foley, the chief of officer promotion management at AFPC.

"The majority of FSB-separated officers are obligated to continue their military service because of the eight-year military service obligation incurred by every armed forces member," she said. "We discovered that having only one captain's process per year meant that some junior officers were not being considered for promotion prior to separation and were losing potential promotions that they had earned and could carry over into the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve. The law states that as long as the officer is on an approved active-duty list for promotion, the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve or sister services will honor their promotions."

Line officers will not have to do anything differently as the established board is automatic based on eligibility criteria.