The Air Force set up four new career field categories for senior master sergeants and chief master sergeants in developmental positions.
Those E-8s and E-9s can now be assigned to be:
- Key developmental senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant positions on headquarters Air Force staff and the Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, 9D100,
- Enlisted engagement manager/international affairs, 9L100,
- Secretary of the Air Force enlisted legislative fellows, 9N000, and
- Military Entrance Processing Command senior enlisted advisor, 9M000.
"These positions confirm our continued commitment to the development of our enlisted force, and the ability for enlisted airmen to serve at the highest levels," Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody said in a May 6 release.
These developmental positions help airmen broaden their experience and develop their skills to better prepare them for more senior jobs, and position them to compete for future leadership positions.
"Key developmental positions are essential for building developmental competencies and leadership experience," the Air Force said in a 2006 document on the international affairs career field.
Those airmen will serve outside of their normal career progression pattern when in these positions, and will get a different duty Air Force Specialty Code from their current AFSC.
Besides being a senior or chief master sergeant, to become eligible for those jobs an airman must have a:
- Skill level commensurate with his grade,
- Overall enlisted performance report rating of 5 on his last three EPRs,
- 80 percent or above on his last two fitness tests or 90 percent or above on his most recent fitness test, without failing any portion of the fitness test within the last 12 months, and
- No assignment on file. Airmen with an approved follow-on assignment can be considered on a case-by-case basis, the release said.
Airmen who are receiving a selective reenlistment bonus may apply for one of these jobs, but if they are selected, they will lose future bonus payments and could have to repay what they've already received, the Air Force said. They will maintain their primary and control AFSCs and could remain qualified for their usual jobs. But because they are no longer serving in those specialties — which is a requirement to continue to receive SRBs — they could lose the bonuses.
To avoid having to repay bonuses they have already received, airmen must have finished at least half of their current enlistment and agree to waive remaining payments.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
