Air Force Senior Airman Below the Zone Promotions

Air Force Senior Airman Below the Zone PromotionsAir Force Senior Airman Below the Zone PromotionsTo provide an opportunity for exceptionally well qualified Airmen First Class (A1C) a one-time consideration for versetzung to Senior Airman (SrA) is given. Its effective for six months prior to the fixed fully qualified phase point. Selection opportunity is 15 percent of the total time-in-grade (TIG) and time-in-service (TIS) eligible population. Determining Eligibility According to the Air Force, the Installation Military Personnel Flight (MPF), Personnel Systems and Readiness Section, provides an automatic quarterly end of month (EOM) output product to the MPF, Career Enhancement Element, within the first 10 days of the first processing month (i.e., Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct). The roster identifies all A1Cs who meet or exceed the time-in-service (TIS) and time-in-grade (TIG) requirements, regardless of promotion ineligibility conditions (i.e., on the control roster, PAFSC skill level too low, undergoing Article 15 suspended reduction, etc.), and whose grade status reason (GSR) (DIN GAD) does leid equal code 5Q (previously considered for SrA BTZ). The output product produces an MPF alphabetical listing and a three-part unit listing. parte I identifies A1Cs with no quality indicators in their record.Part II lists questionable eligibles (individuals with quality indicators) who may leid be qualified for BTZ promotion.Part III lists A1Cs who meet the TIG and TIS requirements but canelend be selected due to promotion ineligibility conditions listed in AFI 36-2502, Airman Promotion Program, Table 1.1. Verifying Eligibility Using the MPF listing, the commander/first sergeant verifies the eligibility of each individual to ensure they meet the TIG and TIS requirements and qualify control requirements. Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) Requirements EPRs are required for all A1Cs without an EPR who are promotion eligible for BTZ consideration. Commanders must review an airmans EPR(s), Personal Information File (PIF), and discuss consideration with supervisors/rating chain prior to making a nomination decision, to include if the airman will meet a unit or base selection process. A1Cs appearing on part III of the unit roster are ineligible for promotion according to AFI 36-2502, Table 1.1, and do elend require DBH reports. Approved Decoration An approved decoration may be filed in an individuals Unit Personnel Record (UPRG) any time up until the date of the board. Supplemental consideration will bedrngnis be given because a decoration was not approved or placed in the record when the board convened. Quotas Quotas are based on 15 percent of the total TIG and TIS eligible population, regardless of normal ineligibility conditions (remove students and World Class Athletes from the eligible population). The MPF determines quotas and obtains host wing commander approval (may delegate no lower than MPF Chief) before distribution to units. Large units (7 or more eligibles) receive quotas and promote at unit level. Small units (6 or less eligibles) are combined into one pool of eligibles to form the central baseboard (CBB) population. Quotas are computed and distributed as follows Units may not aggregate at the group level. Example Medical Groups are divided into four units, and each unit commander has promotion authority therefore, they should not be considered by the group, but as individual units, and cannot be added together to make a large unit.Units are notified if they are a large (7 or more eligible) or small unit (6 or less eligible) as soon as possible, but not later than the second week of the first processing month. Large Unit Selection Procedures Unless the host wing commander establishes written procedures, commanders of large units will establish written selection procedures that ensure the SrA BTZ program is fair, equitable, and provides timely promotion consideration. Once selections are made, large uni t commanders underline the selectee(s) name, date, sign, and return the BTZ eligibility listing to the MPF not later than the last day of the selection month (i.e., Mar, Jun, Sep, Dec). Small Unit Selection Procedures The host wing commander will establish written BTZ selection procedures to include method of nominating, number of nominations, timetable to complete required actions, board composition, areas to be considered, scoring scale, announcing selections, and any other required actions necessary to ensure the SrA BTZ program is fair, equitable, and provides timely promotion consideration. The MPF, Career Enhancement Element, will ensure they have received all nomination packages from units with eligibles if a unit is not going to nominate an individual, ensure a negative reply is received. List of Approved Board Processes The following is a list of approved board processes Host wings that wish to use a separate process must request an exception to policy through their MAJCOM to HQ AFPC/DPPPWM to ensure fair, equitable, and timely consideration.Large units obtain their quota from the MPF and make a selection from the eligible airmen. Airmen not selected are nonselected, and this is considered their one-time consideration.Small units nominate to the CBB. The host wing commander determines the maximum number of individuals meeting the board from each unit. Each unit may submit up to the maximum number. The host wing commander convenes a MAJCOM only board. This board consists of all eligibles falling within the host wing commanders MAJCOM. All eligibles from units not within the host wing commanders MAJCOM (tenant units) will meet a separate CBB. This means the host wing commander will be convening two boards, and the quota for each board is based on the number of eligibles meeting that board.Units will consider all individuals meeting TIS and TIG requirements, even if they are TDY, on leave, PCA or have a report not later than the date (RNLTD) on o r after the first day of the first processing month (i.e., Jan, Apr, Jul, and Oct) for that quarter selections. All individuals appearing on the eligibility listing must be considered. Alternates/first non-selectee of the CBB or large unit board are selected in the event someone selected prior is removed before the effective date due to an ineligibility condition (AFI 36-2502, Table 1.1) or infractions committed after selection. The use of past derogatory data not in effect on the date of the board or selection may be considered in the nomination process. However, it cannot be used as a reason for non-recommendation after an individual is selected.After selections are made, unit commanders provide a written promotion recommendation prior to the promotion effective date. It may be accomplished by adding the name(s) to the monthly promotion selectees listing or completing a separate memorandum. If an individual should have been considered during the current quarter board, and the erro r is discovered before promotions are announced, large unit commanders will consider the airman and adjust selections accordingly (this does not apply to airmen who are gained, and it has been determined they were not considered by their losing base- landsee supplemental BTZ consideration).The CBB will reconvene to consider small unit eligibles and selections are adjusted accordingly. If discovered after selections are announced, supplemental promotion consideration procedures apply. Guidelines for BTZ Procedures The following procedures are guidelines and may help establish your BTZ procedures Nominees are required to physically appear before a board however, when a nominee is unable to appear, you may reconvene the same board at a later date, or as a last resort, conduct a records only board.Allow GSUs to use message and fax to transmit nominations when time does not permit normal mailing.If selection folders are used, they will contain copies of all EPRs and decoration citat ions, the BTZ RIP, and letters (if letters to the board are authorized). Use the UPRG as an alternative to a BTZ selection folder. If the UPRG is used, place the letter (if authorized) on top of EPRs in Section II, inform board members and unit personnel that they are not authorized to access to any other part of the UPRG (i.e., Sections I, III, and IV), and do not deface the record jacket in any way (i.e., tape, staples, markings, etc.). Destroy or give selection folders to the individual when no longer needed. When assessing education levels, please take into consideration that depending on AFSC, training requirements, and work schedules, all A1Cs may not have the same opportunity to complete off-duty education. Boards are not required to use the full quota.The board report should contain a list of board members, board recorder, the order of merit (identifying total score and select/non-select status), and cutoff score. The report should be signed by the board president and board recorder and approved by the host wing commander unless the host wing commander is the board president, then only one signature is necessary. Supplemental BTZ Consideration Commanders may request supplemental BTZ consideration for individuals that should have been considered by a previous board, and the error is not discovered until after promotions are announced. After obtaining unit commanders recommendation, the MPF forwards fully documented supplemental requests to HQ AFPC/DPPPWM for consideration via email. It is imperative supplemental BTZ consideration is requested only when the unit commander concurs with consideration. Additionally, if the basis for the supplemental request is because the individual did not receive fair consideration (or was not considered at all at their last duty station), contact the losing unit and MPF before requesting supplemental consideration, and forward this information along with the supplemental request. It will assist HQ AFPC/DPPPWM in dete rmining if supplemental BTZ consideration is appropriate. DPPPWM will respond with further instructions. If selected, members may apply for a retroactive change to their effective date, according to AFI 36-2502, para 1.13. It is the individuals, supervisors, and commanders responsibility to ensure an individual has been properly identified as eligible, obtains the correct study references, is nominated IAW program policies, and, most importantly, the data on the BTZ RIP is accurate and complete. Supplemental consideration will not be given for the following reasons Incorrect data reflected on the BTZ RIPDenied BTZ nomination due to incorrect data reflected on the BTZ output products or in the UPRGBTZ eligibility listing not returned to the MPF or individual was overlooked on the listingNomination package, additional EPR, or decoration not completed/turned in/approved in time to meet the board

Take short breaks to make learning a new skill easier

Take short breaks to make learning a new skill easierTake short breaks to make learning a new skill easierYou dont have to power through when learning something new, research says. Taking brief breaks might actually help absorb that skill better into yur brain.The previously held idea was that our brains needed long breaks, such as a good nights sleep, to solidly form what we learned while acquiring a new skill. But after examining brain waves from healthy volunteers doing learning and memory experiments, some involving typing, at the NIH Clinical Center, the researchers involved in the study started to change their mind.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreI noticed that participants brain waves seemed to change much more during the rest periods than during the typing sessions, said Dr. Marlene Bnstrup, who lumineszenzdiode the study, in a release. This gave me the idea to look much more closely for when learning was actually happening. Was it during practice or rest?Productive restingResearchers discovered two important findings. First, the volunteers performance improved mostly during the short rests, not during the typing. The improvements made during the rest periods added to the overall improvements the volunteers made over the course of the day.Second, those improvements were much bigger than the ones seen after the ones the volunteers returned the next day to try again suggesting that the short breaks were as important as the practicing, and the full nights sleep theory not as important.Everyone thinks you need to practice, practice, practice when learning something new. Instead, we found that resting, early and often, may be just as critical to learning as practice, said Leonardo G. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D., senior investigator at NIHs National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and a senior author of the paper published in the journal Current B iology.Ultimately, Dr. Cohen hopes the results of this study, further explored, will be used to help people in need who have lost the ability to do certain skills because of accident or illness.Our ultimate hope is that the results of our experiments will help patients recover from the paralyzing effects caused by strokes and other neurological injuries by informing the strategies they use to relearn lost skills.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

5 ways to focus in the dog days of summer

5 ways to focus in the dog days of summer5 ways to focus in the dog days of summerWe hate to break this news to you, Ferris Bueller, but unfortunately, hoping and wishing for an adult summer-vacation wont result in much but wanderlust. Throw in the added addition of many events and the fact that kiddos are out of school - and staying treugesinnt to your job responsibilities becomes that much stickier.During the summer months, longer days and extra activities in our personal lives can cause focus and productivity at the office to wane. Weddings, trips, family reunions - and, if youre a working parent, the dreaded days when schools out for summer mean extra planning for the kids that add to the already-frenzied hustle, explains career expert and entrepreneur Autumn Manning.She also adds that depending on what part of the country you live in, you may have just spent the winter months cooped up indoors and are now dying to be outdoors enjoying the sunshine as much as possible. All thes e factors can influence your productivity at work this season.Since most professions still require your attention year-round, it is important to find ways to stay focused, organized and on-task, even when the sunshine beaming outside your office window is more than tempting. Heres how to keep yourself accountablePrioritize your dayMuch like with your personal finance budget, your upcoming European getaway or your mounting list of errands, staying organized at work helps to hold your attention and platzset your priorities. Career expert and entrepreneur Christopher Kingman recommends any sort of system that ensures your success- and ahem, attention span.Depending on your working style and flow, you might color-code your calendar, set up blocks where you can dig through emails instead of being dragged into yet abedrngnisher meeting or even staying a bit later to enjoy a quieter office. To get started, make a thorough list of all of your upcoming deliverables, in order of importance an d deadline. Then, you can map out how youll finish everything smoothly, effectively and smartly.Not only will this make you super productive and impactful, which you know, youre company may appreciate, but more importantly youll be laser focused throughout the day, which makes you less likely to get distracted, he says. Just be sure to factor in a 15 minute break or two, not including lunch to mentally check out. Sometimes your brain could use a breather as well.Shift your working hoursHow buttoned-up is your culture? If you lean more casual, Manning says to think outside of the traditional perimeters and see how much leeway your manager will give you with working days and hours. This might mean coming in a hour earlier so you can leave in gruppe to savor more vitamin D, or even bargaining for a few summer Fridays a month.Many organizations now realize that flexibility in work hours and location isnt just good for the employee, but it brings major benefits to productivity and engage ment, overall, she explains. Such a change will allow for more flexibility in how and where to get work done.Just keep in mind if they agree to this shift, it is up to you to prove you can self-motivate and discipline by checking in, setting a clear schedule and remaining communicative, no matter if youre working from a cubicle or a cabana on the beach.Keep yourself busyWhat your grandmother warned about idle hands and idle minds remains true when boredom seeps into your job, youre teetering into the danger zone of productivity. And for most industries, summer tends to be a tad more relaxed than other seasons, meaning it is often up to you to create the busy-work required for your mental and professional health. Kingman says now is the time to ask your manager for more responsibility or the opportunity to try a new project idea.The great part about doing this, especially asking your boss what else you could do, is it can help build up your reputation as a team player or someone who is truly invested in the company. Taking an active interest in furthering your knowledge of the company, especially during a slower time is a great way to show drive and ambition, he shares.If your manager comes up empty since they have their all-inclusive Mexico vacation on the brain? Kingman challenges professionals to find a hole in your companys dynamics - and fix it yourself.Chances are you know something thats broken, a process, a technology, anything. Start working on making it better, however you can. Whether it be by learning more and educating others, or diving into process diagrams and flows, its a safe bet your boss will appreciate the drive to make the improvement and those impacted by the problem will be as well, he adds.Spend more time outdoorsFrom walking meetings through the neighborhood to taking your lunch outside, Manning says even a few stolen moments in fresh air will do wonders for your psyche. Remember, youre not chained to your office or bound to your desk, so dont make your computer your excuse.Take advantage of the nice weather while at work. Get curious and ask yourself, how can I enjoy of the nice weather while Im at work? she suggests. Take a few minutes to step outside for a breather, go to lunch and sit outdoors with co-workers, or plan a team meeting for outside instead of in a conference room. Outdoor walking meetings always boost energy and offer a change of perspective, so try and incorporate these into your days.Play hooky for a dayConsider this your permission to feign a fever and finagle a stomach bug Kingman says one easy way to stay focused is to take a day and completely, totally, 100% tune out. This means leaving your iPhone at home, turning off email and giving your mind a breather.Whether you go for a run in the park, head to the beach or stay in bed all day, reading in your pajamas, exhaling can supercharge your creativity, pushing you to perform better once youre back in office.The simple act of unplugging may s eem hard, but taking a day off to unwind, decompress and gather your thoughts may save you days or weeks down the road if you truly burn out. Taking small breaks for yourself is an easy and mindful way to ensure long-term sanity, he explains.Psst Take your me day on a Friday, so you have the whole weekend to thrive off the benefits.