A little daily preparation goes far when it's time for promotions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Amaani Lyle
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  Your heart pounds. Your palms sweat. This is the day you knew you’d both fear and anticipate most as a military member. Everything has led up to this moment.

This is combat. And the worst physical damage the enemy can cause is ... a severe paper cut.

For the “enemy” is nothing more than a test -- specifically, a method of Air Force promotion known as WAPS, or the Weighted Airman Promotion System.

But it’s the psychological torture -- the fear of being overwhelmed and failing that seems to cause the most anxiety among Airmen.

Once Airmen arm themselves with the facts about what the test and point-compilation system are, what to expect and how to most effectively study for it, they’ll find this adversary is far less formidable than first imagined.

The Air Force-wide testing cycle for master and technical sergeants is Feb. 15 - Mar. 31 and staff sergeants test in May. Thousands of hopefuls who seek a coveted new stripe will put their knowledge to the test in two different categories:

-- the specialty knowledge test

-- the promotion fitness examination

These two factors -- worth nearly half of all possible points -- are probably what Airmen have the most control over.

Note that the Air Force makes promotions under WAPS within each Air Force specialty code, not across them. This is great news for eligible Airmen because it means that people compete for promotion only with those individuals who work in their AFSC. The highest scores, within quota limitation, become selectees.

So ask yourself: how well do you know and understand your job? How familiar are you with Air Force regulations?

Some test answers may come easily by virtue of the fact that many Airmen have been doing their jobs for quite some time.

Other specifics, such as dress and appearance, customs and courtesies and Air Force history, may take a little bit more thought if they aren’t consistently and diligently researched and digested.

That said, there’s no time like the present. If you haven’t already done so, start digging into the PFE now and continue to do so throughout your career. Also ask your supervisor, training manager or personnelist about obtaining the most up-to-date PFE and career development course manuals.

Take a little free time each day to read, learn and invest in yourself -- one page at a time.