{"id":50894,"date":"2018-09-12T13:04:06","date_gmt":"2018-09-12T13:04:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/09\/12\/chief-wright-new-rules-on-high-year-tenure-coming-soon\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:50:26","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:50:26","slug":"chief-wright-new-rules-on-high-year-tenure-coming-soon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/your-military\/2018\/09\/12\/chief-wright-new-rules-on-high-year-tenure-coming-soon\/","title":{"rendered":"Chief Wright: New rules on high-year tenure coming soon"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In his first year and a half on the job, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright has been a driving force<\/a> behind many changes that have improved airmen\u2019s lives<\/a> \u2014 and drawn cheers from many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wright has helped push the Air Force to adopt the new OCP uniform<\/a>, slash unnecessary rules<\/a>, training and additional duties, eliminate enlisted performance reports<\/a> for airmen first class, and change professional military education<\/a>. And his willingness to root out nagging problems that frustrate airmen day to day \u2014 as well as his lighthearted, social media-friendly presence \u2014 have earned him a fan base online and for some, the tongue-in-cheek nickname \u201cEnlisted Jesus.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an Aug. 15 interview, Wright said those \u201csmall wins\u201d over the past year have helped increase morale among enlisted airmen and build trust in himself and other Air Force leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And in the coming year, Wright said he\u2019s planning to build on the progress made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High year of tenure<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Atop his list is extending the current high year of tenure rules so airmen can stay in longer without getting promoted. Currently, staff sergeants have to get out at 15 years if they don\u2019t get promoted to technical sergeant. But in July, Wright voiced his support for extending the so-called up-or-out rules for E-5s to 20 years. He also said in July that the Air Force is considering extending tech sergeants’ high year of tenure from 20 to 22 years, as well as extending senior airmen\u2019s current eight-year high year of tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the interview, Wright said the Air Force is \u201creally close\u201d on a decision on high year of tenure, and said he wants to get it \u201cacross the finish line\u201d sometime in September \u2014 though he cautioned there are no guarantees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indefinite re-enlistments<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wright also expects an announcement on moving to an indefinite enlistment system \u2014 in which senior non-commissioned officers would automatically be re-enlisted until they decide to leave \u2014 sometime before the end of calendar year 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The system \u2014 which would be similar to how the Army handles enlistments \u2014 could be structured something like this: Airmen who hit 15 years time-in-service would automatically have their enlistments extended to their rank\u2019s high year of tenure mark. They could apply to retire once they became eligible, or separate before becoming retirement-eligible, as long as they don\u2019t have an active-duty service commitment. Airmen who are promoted would have their service extended to their new rank\u2019s high year of tenure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat stuff has become a priority for me, for our vice chief, for the chief of staff, for the senior leadership in the Air Force,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI think we\u2019ll get there much faster.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Kaleth Wright talks to Air Force Times and Defense News in a March 8, 2018 roundtable at the Pentagon. (Jeff Martin\/Staff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Dropping WAPS testing for SNCOs<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

And 2019 is likely to see a major change to how SNCOs are evaluated and promoted, Wright said. The Air Force is considering dropping the Weighted Airman Promotion System tests for promotion to master sergeant through chief master sergeant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force has had WAPS testing since 1970, Wright said, but it might not be necessary for E-7 through E-9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re the only service that still tests senior NCOs for promotion,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI feel pretty confident in the board process, that we can select the right individuals without the WAPS test.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tests would not be replaced by anything, he said. The current SNCO board process would have enough information to decide who to promote by looking at their EPRs, board certifications and decorations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have enough data to determine who\u2019s ready for promotion at those grades,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI don\u2019t feel like we need the test portion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s not a done deal yet, Wright said. For example, the Air Force has to think through all the potential \u201csecond and third order\u201d unintended effects of such a change before putting it into place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wright also said there might be some other tweaks to the board process, though the Air Force is largely happy with how it\u2019s working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force hasn\u2019t yet looked at changes to the staff or tech sergeant promotion processes, but will start reviewing them early next year, he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force last reformed its enlisted evaluation and promotion process in 2015. One major change put into place then was establishing a \u201cforced distribution\u201d system that used quotas to limit how many airmen could get the highest ratings, which was aimed at reducing the problem of runaway grade inflation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warrant officers<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing that\u2019s not likely to get resolved in 2019: the long-standing debate over whether the Air Force should bring back warrant officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI doubt if we\u2019ll see a decision next year,\u201d Wright said. \u201cWe may, but I don\u2019t think we\u2019ve made enough progress [or] traction across our force to really make a decision on whether this is the right thing for our force. … Me personally, I just don\u2019t get the sense that as an Air Force, this is a step that we\u2019re necessarily ready to make, that there\u2019s enough support across the Air Force to implement this program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t