Changes Afoot for CENTCOM Air Force Members

As of February, Air Force members will no longer test for promotion while they are in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operation, under a series of changes announced Jan. 18 by the Air Force. Before, only airmen in permanent-change-of-station status were exempt from promotion tests; now, everyone assigned to a CENTCOM area of operation on 365-day deployments is included. Instead, eligible airmen will test before deploying if the testing cycle is ongoing. If they are deployed during the testing cycle, they will have 60 days to study upon their return to home station. If selected for promotion, they will receive back-pay and benefits based on their original date of rank. Selectees for promotion will receive back pay and benefits based on their original date of rank. The change also allows all Air Force members deployed on approved 365-day indeterminate temporary duty assignments to apply for either advance assignment consideration for their next duty station or a 24-month assignment deferment. The move makes benefits equitable for all eligible CENTCOM Airmen. "We have airmen on 365-day deployments and airmen who are permanent party sitting side by side, for the same amount of time, but some policies affect them differently," said Lt. Col. Scott Brady, chief of Air Force promotions and evaluations policy at the Pentagon.