Every effort will be made to test individuals prior to their departure.  If this can not be arranged, member will test as follows: (1) for CTDY that are less than 90 days, test upon return unless CC requests 30 days delay in writing (includes any leave taken upon completion of CTDY); (2) for CTDY more than 90 days, test after 60 days of return ((includes any leave taken upon completion of CTDY).  Members who are authorized 30 or 60 days prep time may elect in writing to test early.

Individuals who do not possess a 5-skill level in their primary AFSC (PAFSC) are ineligible to test until awarded a 5-level and the effective date is on or before the promotion cutoff date or if the commander authorizes a PAFSC skill level waiver.  Waivers are only authorized for reasons listed in AFI 36-2502, Table 2.3.  As a reminder, a skill level waiver does not constitute SKT exemption.  Skill level waivers and SKT exemptions are two completely different actions.  If you are approved for a skill level waiver, you will be required to test PFE and SKT.

The key here is the date you departed for school.  Everyone competes for promotion in his or her CAFSC.  The effective date of change of your CAFSC for retraining through a formal school is the date departed PCS, PCA, TDY enroute, TDY or date assigned duty, if there isn’t a PCS or PCA.  If you depart prior to the PECD for the cycle you’re eligible for, you will test PFE only with the option of taking the SKT in your new AFSC (if one is available).  If you departed after the PECD, you will compete in your previous CAFSC.

Remember those personnel returning from Special Duty back to their AFSC do not always get a 2 year SKT exemption.  The key here is training status code (TSC).  If member was fully qualified – TSC R (meaning awarded 5 skill level for E5 cycle or 7 skill level for E6/E7 cycle) before they went into the special duty, then upon their return to their AFSC they would get TSC I -- which only grants member a 6 month waiver.  If the 6 month ends prior to PECD then member take both tests.  On the other hand, if member was not fully qualified, then member is granted a DIERT date for 2 years from when member returns to previous AFSC (normally use date based on DDLDS or date assigned whichever applies).

You are!  Not your unit WAPS monitor and not the MPF training or testing office.  If you study obsolete or incorrect material and then do poorly on your SKT, you will not be authorized to test again.  It’s your responsibility to personally check the current edition of the WAPS Catalog.  This publication is available on the web on the AFOMS web page at https://www.omsq.af.mil/TE/WAPSCat.pdf or on the AFPC web page at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/miltesting

If you are a retrainee and your new AFSC has an SKT, you’ll compete against all other individuals who do not have to take the SKT in their CAFSC and will be considered in promotion AFSC 00XXX or 00XXXX (for chronic critical career fields).  If you are a retrainee but your new AFSC does not have an SKT, you’ll compete against the eligibles in your new AFSC.  If your new career field has an SKT, you may elect to take the SKT.  However, the decision must be made prior to testing and cannot be changed once you are administered the tests.  The SKT that you will be administered will be the SKT in your new career field.

Airmen that are serving in a duty out of control AFSC, for example 8D000, are eligible to test PFE only.

Unfortunately, you will need to report to your commander and explain why you should be rescheduled and not declared ineligible for that cycle.

Some unfortunate reasons that might be excusable are:

• Serious documented accident/illness/injury to you or an immediate family member
• Your car was stolen the morning you were to test and you can provide a police report to prove it

Some unfortunate reasons that are not excusable are:

• You wrote the wrong date on your calendar
• You were in a traffic jam on the way to the testing facility
• You overslept
• You reported to the wrong building
• A train held you up and kept you from showing up on time

AFI 36-2605, Air Force Military Personnel Testing System, lists what constitutes a test compromise.  The following are some of the general rules listed in this instruction that may serve as a basis for punitive or administrative actions or both.  This list is not comprehensive.  It is your responsibility to know what is and what isn’t a compromise.  Think of it this way, if you have any doubt that something may be a compromise of test or study material, then it probably is.

• Air Force members (active duty, ANG, Reserve, and civilians under Air Force authority) will not possess, reproduce, distribute, or communicate in any way the contents of test material unless authorized by AFI 36-2605.

• Taking, reviewing, or having access to actual test material.

• Reviewing or having access to illegal study materials that reveal the specific content of actual or suspected test material.
• Questioning examinees for the purpose of determining test content.
• Reproducing or copying any test material, in whole or part.
• Training that concentrates on “teaching the test” or that emphasizes information known or believed to be on a specific test.
• Taking a test and claiming to be another examinee.
• Opening or tampering with any package containing CONTROLLED TEST MATERIAL.
• Reviewing or using any “highlighted” or marked study material or notes that reflect actual or suspected test material that is shared between, used by, or observed by more than one examinee or potential examinee or any unauthorized individual.
• Discussing actual test material or the specific contents of testable material in such a way as to highlight actual or potential test material or test questions in correspondence that is distributed.
• Removing testing material from the testing room.
• Group study.  Group study is defined as any examinee or potential examinee discussing or sharing in any form, information about actual test material or marked/highlighted testable material with other examinees, potential examinees, or other unauthorized individuals; or to study for a WAPS test with anyone else. 
• Copying from another examinee’s answer sheet or asking another examinee for help during a test administration period.
• Using equipment not authorized during test administration, such as an unapproved calculator.
• Sharing marked or unmarked commercial study guides.

Many people wonder why the test examiner can’t score their test upon completion of the test.  It’s not that easy.  A period of time must be allowed for the test takers to challenge the validity of test questions.  This process further ensures the Air Force is administering tests that are technically accurate.  If a test question is challenged, the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron at Randolph AFB reviews the validity of each question.  Based on that review, questions can be deleted from the test.  Just prior to the select phase, a final score key with all deleted questions is made and at that time all tests are scored.  If the tests were scored and results given out once a person finished testing, there’s a strong possibility the scores could change at selection time.  We don’t want to tell someone they scored a 75 on the PFE in February, and then tell them they weren’t selected in June because their score was really a 70 based on deleted questions.  Rest assured, we’re doing our best to get releases out as quickly as possible.

Although many people think that AFPC or HQ USAF determines each cutoff score, the truth is that people competing for promotion really establish them.  HQ USAF determines how many enlisted members can be promoted each cycle based on end strength and fiscal constraints, and then we apply that quota equally to each AFSC based on the total eligible population.  This is referred to as equal selection opportunity (ESO).  The total score of the last person selected within the quota then becomes the cutoff score for promotion in that AFSC.  Therefore, cutoff scores are not determined until HQ AFPC actually runs the selection list, just prior to public release.

The word “tentative,” when it refers to enlisted promotion announcements, means your announced promotion status and promotion sequence number are subject to verification against your Unit Personnel Record Group maintained at your personnel flight/Automated Records Management System (ARMS).  MPFs must make certain that the points reflected by the data system are valid and supported with source documents.  It is important for you to remember that an erroneous tentative selection will result in your removal from the selection list.  When you think this through, you should conclude that it’s the only right thing to do.  Few people really want a promotion they did not earn!  Remember also that removal from a promotion list that is “tentative” is both heartbreaking and embarrassing.  Make sure that all items for which you are credited on your DVR are officially documented in your personnel record weeks in advance of the promotion selection date.

If on or after the PECD an individual becomes ineligible for promotion, in accordance with AFI 36-2502, Table 1.1, they cannot test, cannot be considered if already tested, and their projected promotion sequence number (line number) will be canceled/removed.

Individuals receiving a referral EPR or an overall rating of a “2” or lower on or after the PECD are ineligible for promotion.  In addition, individuals remain ineligible for promotion until they receive an EPR with an overall rating of “3” or higher that is not a referral.

Airmen are ineligible for promotion under WAPS effective the first class/training day of an Air Force commissioning program.  A line number may be reinstated if an Airman is eliminated from training through no fault of his or her own.

The present method of determining Promotion Sequence Numbers (PSNs), commonly referred to as line numbers, was developed from the basic military philosophy of rank, precedence, and command.  PSNs are assigned on the basis of date of rank (DOR), total active federal military service (TAFMS), and date of birth.  Selectees are promoted in monthly increments as vacancies occur.

The score notice is a report of how you fared in the promotion process.  It can also be used with promotion statistics to determine promotion information such as average TIS and TIG for selects and nonselects.  The only person authorized to review your score notice without your consent is your immediate commander.  However, you are encouraged to voluntarily share the contents with other Air Force leaders, i.e., mentors and supervisors, in an effort to gain insight from their experience.  The ultimate decision as to whether or not you should share score notice information with anyone other than your commander is up to you.

After promotion selections are released, everyone who tested and remained eligible receives a score notice in VMPF.  In all cases, if you do not receive a score notice, visit the MPF, Career Enhancement Element, and they can assist you in obtaining one.  You may retrieve a score notice after selects are made by visiting the Virtual MPF (VMPF) at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil.

An individual’s request for verification of scores will only be honored when there is substantial evidence that a scoring error may have occurred.  Requests for verification of scores based on identical test scores, same score as previous year, and several identical scores within the same AFSC cannot be honored.  These are simply coincidences that can occur because of the many thousands of tests given each year.  Additionally, missing promotion by a narrow margin has no bearing on the accuracy of test scores and will not be honored as a reason for verification. 

Furthermore, an individual’s belief that his or her test score does not reflect the person’s study efforts is not sufficient.  Prior to the release of every promotion cycle, a random number of test answer sheets are hand scored to ensure computer accuracy.  There has never been an error since the inception of WAPS.

HQ USAF provides increment line numbers monthly based on the next month’s projected vacancies and available funding.  We normally publish the increments around the 15th day of the current month for the next month.  For example, July 2009 increments should be received on or about 15 June 2009.  Contact your MPF, Customer Service Section, or inquire on the Web at http://www.ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/eprom

Because individuals selected for SSgt and TSgt do not incur an ADSC, they may retire the first day of the month following the effective date of promotion or extend their retirement date for up to 6 months.  This means that if your HYT date is on the same day that your line number is effective, you will have to extend a minimum of 30 days to retire in the new grade.

Normally you will need a 7-skill level to pin on TSgt.  However, commanders may waive the 7-skill level requirement for TSgt selects (at the time when PSN is announced for promotion) when the Airman has completed upgrade requirements and is waiting to attend or currently enrolled in the 7-level school.  There is no other provision to allow you to pin on TSgt without a 7-skill level.

Air Force policy stipulates that the following criteria must be met to add an approved decoration to a promotion cycle:

a.  The closeout date of the decoration must be on or before the PECD.

b.  The DECOR 6 (RDP) date (this is the date the RIP was printed) must be before the date selections for promotion are made.

c.  If the decoration order is dated after the date selections were made, documentation must be provided that establishes that the recommendation for decoration was placed into official channels and recommended by the commander prior to the date selections were made.  Definition of placed into official channels:  AFI 36-2803, para 3.1,  A recommendation
is placed in official channels when the recommending official signs the recommendation
(DECOR6 and justification) and a higher official in the chain of command endorses it.

d.  If the decoration was resubmitted for any reason (i.e., lost, disapproved, amended, etc.), the resubmission request must have been placed into official channels and recommended by the commander prior to the date selections for promotion were made.

Although these criteria may seem strict, in order to be fair to the 135,000 individuals who compete each year for limited promotions, we must insist on the same standard of proof for each request we review.

If the closeout date of the decoration is prior to the PECD and the decoration order date is prior to the month selections are made, then the decoration will automatically be considered.  If the date of the order is after the date AFPC made selections, you must submit a request through your MPF to HQ AFPC.

The following documentation is required to request supplemental promotion consideration to add an approved decoration:

• Special order
• Citation
• DECOR 6 (both pages)
• Amendments, if any
• Recommendation for unit commander approving supplemental request
• Documentation when decoration was placed into official channels and when recommended by the unit commander
• Actions you took to locate the missing document

Individuals performing duty in the 8R000 AFSC on 21 Jun 00 or later, who have accrued 36 months in that duty on or before the PECD and are certified by their Recruiting Service Commander are entitled to two WAPS points.  The points will count towards promotion when the 36-month certification date is on or before the PECD.  No additional points will be awarded for additional years/tours served.  Your DVR will not reflect the ribbon.  If you think you are eligible for the ribbon and it does not reflect on your score notice, contact your Recruiting Service Commander’s Support Section and MPF promotions office.

If the assigned promotion sequence number has already incremented, the promotion file is set up to project an individual who has been supplementally selected for promotion to the first of the month after they were considered for promotion.  The reason for this is it allows the MPF to conduct data verification and get approval from your commander.  No action is required on your part to make this happen; AFPC will automatically consider and update your retroactive promotion within 45 days of promotion.