Here are important dates under the new promotion system for enlisted members at each rank:
Senior airman and below
March 31: Static closeout date on which enlisted performance reports are completed. It coincides with the eligibility cutoff date for promotion to staff sergeant.
May-June: Testing window for senior airman promotions to staff sergeant.
Around July: Promotions to staff sergeant announced.
August: New EPR form released for consideration in 2016 and beyond.
March 2016: Forced distribution — the percentage of airmen who will be most recommended for promotion in 2016 and beyond — goes into effect.
Staff sergeant
Calendar 2015 cycle: First incremental reduction in time-in-grade and time-in-service points. EPR calculation weight changed. Transition from evaluating last five EPRs to no more than last three EPRs.
Jan. 31: Static closeout date on which EPRs are completed. It coincides with the eligibility cutoff date for promotion to technical sergeant.
February-March: Testing window for promotion to tech sergeant.
Around June: Promotions to tech sergeant announced.
August: New EPR form released for consideration in 2016 and beyond.
January 2016: Forced distribution goes into effect for consideration in 2016 and beyond
Technical sergeant
Calendar 2015 cycle: First incremental reduction in time-in-grade and time-in-service points. EPR calculation weight changed. Transition from evaluating last five EPRs to no more than last three EPRs.
February-March: Testing window for promotion to master sergeant. This will determine who will go before the first master sergeant promotion board.
May: First master sergeant promotion board.
TBA, likely during summer: Promotions to master sergeant announced.
August: New EPR form will be released for 2016 and beyond.
November: Forced distribution goes into effect for 2016 and beyond.
Nov. 30: Static closeout date on which EPRs are completed. It coincides with the eligibility cutoff date for promotion to master sergeant in 2016.
Master sergeant
Calendar 2015 cycle: First incremental reduction in time-in-grade and time-in-service points. EPR calculation weight changed. Transition from evaluating last five EPRs to no more than last three EPRs.
January-February: Evaluation board for promotion to senior master sergeant.
Around March: Promotions to senior master sergeant announced.
April: New EPR form released for 2016 and beyond. New restrictions announced on how many stratifications senior raters can give to their promotion-eligible master sergeants.
June 3: Change of reporting official reports — which were used when an airman had two or more raters within an annual rating period — eliminated.
Sept. 30: Static closeout date on which EPRs are completed. It coincides with the eligibility cutoff date for promotion to senior master sergeant in 2016.
December: Testing window for promotion to senior master sergeant in 2016.
Senior master sergeant
April: New EPR form released. New restrictions announced on how many stratifications senior raters can give to their promotion-eligible senior master sergeants.
April 3: Change of reporting official reports eliminated.
July 31: Static closeout date on which EPRs are completed. It coincides with the eligibility cutoff date for promotion to chief master sergeant.
September: Testing window for promotion to chief master sergeant.
October: Evaluation board for promotion to chief master sergeant.
Around November: Promotions to chief master sergeant announced.
Calendar 2016 cycle: First incremental reduction in time-in-grade and time-in-service points.
Chief master sergeant
Calendar 2015 cycle: First incremental reduction in time-in-grade and time-in-service points.
February: New EPR forms released for chief master sergeants.
Feb. 2: Change of reporting official reports eliminated.
May 31: Static closeout date on which EPRs are completed.
— Stephen Losey
