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Masters need senior NCO academy to fill higher rank jobs

  • Published
ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Master sergeants must now finish the Air Force Senior NCO Academy before they fill a senior or chief master sergeant position in the Air Force Reserve.

Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, chief of the Air Force Reserve and commander of Air Force Reserve Command, announced the policy in a Sept. 27 memo.

Before master sergeants had to complete the top enlisted professional education before they sewed on senior master sergeant stripes. However, they could fill a higher-graded position as long as they enrolled in the academy within six months of their duty effective date.

The new policy still requires getting the academy done before promotion but gives added emphasis to the importance of enlisted professional military education.

"This policy will ensure continued enlisted force development of our senior NCOs by preparing them in part for positions of greater responsibility," said Chief Master Sgt. Jackson A. Winsett, AFRC command chief master sergeant. "Force development, by design, is intended to be a series of experiences and challenges, combined with education and training opportunities, that develop enlisted members as Airmen and leaders."

Master sergeants who have not completed the academy but who are assigned to higher-graded positions will have six months to comply with the new policy. If they do not complete the academy in time, the Air Force Reserve may reassign them to a lower-graded position or realign the chief master sergeant or senior master sergeant authorization to a lower graded authorization in the organization. (AFRC News Service)