Emerging Options for Field-Grade Officer Promotions in the U.S. Air Force
Abstract
Under conventional officer promotion authority outlined in the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA), service secretaries prepare for each field-grade officer promotion board by identifying the junior and senior officers to be considered in the promotion zone (IPZ). They have the option to allow some officers to be considered below the promotion zone (BPZ). Those previously considered IPZ but not selected continue to compete for promotions above the promotion zone (APZ). After the second failure of consideration, officers are subject to selective continuation. Under alternative promotion authority (APA) as outlined in Section 507 of the fiscal year (FY) 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), BPZ and APZ considerations are eliminated. Officers may be considered IPZ up to five times (as determined by service secretaries) before being subject to selective continuation. Service secretaries designate competitive categories to be promoted under the alternative authority. Many familiar DOPMA policies and patterns associated with DOPMA implementation, particularly those related to promotion timing and opportunity, either do not apply or apply in different ways to promotions under alternative authority.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 30, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1197366
Entities
People
- Agnes Gereben Schaefer
- Albert A. Robbert
- Anthony Lawrence
- Diana Y. Myers
- Ignacio A. Lara
- John S. Crown
- Matthew E. Walsh
Organizations
- RAND Corporation