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7,724 staff sergeants selected for E-6

More than 7,700 staff sergeants got the news Thursday that they’ve been selected for promotion to technical sergeant — about 9 percent more than were selected last year.

The Air Force Personnel Center announced that 7,724 of 37,172 eligible staff sergeants were chosen, for a selection rate of 20.78 percent.

Those selected will pin on their E-6 stripes beginning in August, depending on their promotion line numbers.

The list

This year’s rate is slightly higher than last year’s, when 7,103 out of the 38,324 eligible staff sergeants — 18.55 percent — were selected.

The increase is consistent with this year’s other promotion rates, which generally have been a couple percentage points higher than last year’s. The plus-up of Air Force end strength to 332,700 by the end of fiscal 2011 has meant more slots at all grades, and therefore slightly higher promotion percentages.

The average score for this year’s tech sergeant selectees was 319.69, with an average time in grade and time in service of 5.68 and 10.85 years, respectively.

The average score was based on the following point averages:

* 133.29 for enlisted performance reports.

* 67.67 for the promotion fitness exam.

* 56.78 for the specialty knowledge test.

* 40.54 for time in grade.

* 23.95 for time in service.

* 5.36 for decorations.

This is the first time since 1996 that the technical and master sergeant selection lists have been released separately. The master sergeant list was released May 14.