Stripes Article: Promotion Rates and Pay Disparities (lifetime)

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 11:36:29 -0500

http://www.stripes.com/news/promotion-rate-disparities-impact-total-career-pay-1.256050

Now, historically the AF has always been the slowest-promoting service for enlisted, since its separation from the Army in 1947. From my own observations I've thought the AF promoted too slow to E-6, but from my experiences serving alongside the Army in the AOR and in CONUS (also, my wife is an army officer so I've gotten her perspective), I think the ground branches promote too fast. I don't think the right answer is 14.7 years (AF), but I'm also not convinced 8.4 years is right either. Before anyone gets butt-hurt about this, this an observational perspective from experiences and a little bit of research, not policy advocacy.

Promotion rate disparities impact total career pay

Air Force enlisted members advance to pay grades E-5 through E-7 faster than they did before recent wars, but still slower than peers in every other branch of service. That dampens total earnings over...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2013 11:56 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 11:56:06 -0500

It all has to do with retention. Their lives suck less so more people stay in longer.

This is how it should work.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 7 at 2013 2:47 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 14:47:19 -0500

It's hard for me to sympathize when I know my Air Force counterpart will deal with far less deployments, less family separation, less field time, will have more free time, better living conditions, less stringent standards overall, and will generally just have a much higher quality of life than his sister service counterparts.

Consider it diminished benefits for diminished service I suppose.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Dec 7 at 2013 7:51 PM

CSM Mike Maynard — Sat, 07 Dec 2013 19:51:53 -0500

Maj Dinote - Annnnnd roger on the 20-yr pay grade expectations. That is what we are generally telling our folks. That would be the "average", but as you stated, for some of our Manuever, Fires and Effects (MFE) Soldiers, it may be a little better.

And as MAJ Miller stated, honestly, it is all about retention - so, it's a math thing. Based on the number of allocations and how many folks we attrit along the way determines promotion rates and in MFE, it is usually a little better.