Test of time
The Directorate of Personnel-Air Force addresses some common misconceptions about time promotion

Volume 48, No. 21, November 16, 2006

PROMOTION is an eagerly-awaited rite of passage in any serving member’s life.

It is a combination of extra pay and superannuation, recognition of one’s achievement, recognition of increased ‘status’ and acknowledgment that one may deal with extra responsibilities and challenges for the benefit of the individual, the team, the Service and, ultimately, the nation.

Coupled with these self-positives is the challenge of preparing to meet and manage the responsibilities and duties commensurate with the higher rank.

Providing standards are met, the process for junior personnel (junior officers, AC/ACW and LAC/LACW) is straight-forward and promotion will occur within a certain time – a process known as time promotion. At higher rank levels, promotion takes into account many factors, including time, competency attainment, recommendation and satisfactory conduct and performance.

Confusion exists as to why members may not have been promoted within the time that they believe they should have been.

This article will address common misconceptions about time promotion and highlight why promotion approval may not take place until shortly after the member is eligible for promotion.

Time promotion applicability

Time promotion is only applicable to junior officers, ACs and ACWs, LACs and LACWs in the ATECH, AVTECH and ADASTFITT musterings enlisted before January 1, 2006, and enlisted members in aircrew musterings AEA, CREWATT, FLTENG and LOADM.

Promotion eligibility

Time defines the earliest date on which promotion may take effect. For PAF members, time is defined in terms of seniority or effective service. Any period of LWOP or PTLWOP will alter the date you become eligible for promotion. For Reserve members, time is defined in terms of time in rank and efficient service.

Promotion timing

Even if you meet the time criteria, promotion will not take effect until any necessary competencies are also met, your commander recommends your promotion and, most importantly, the authorised delegate within Air Force Personnel Branch approves the promotion. Importantly, the timing of your promotion will not be backdated to a date earlier than when you met both the time and competency requirements.

Promotion notification process

Air Force Personnel Branch advises promotions via the Air Force postings and promotions website, in response to a combination of advice from units and fortnightly interrogation of PMKeyS data concerning competency attainment.

Where competencies are met in advance of meeting the minimum time criterion, promotion approval and advice should align closely with the anticipated promotion date. However, it is simply not practical to interrogate PMKeyS data daily to ascertain whether a competency has been input to PMKeyS and then rush the promotion instrument through the authorised delegate.

Notification of time promotions may be delayed by a number of weeks. However, this delay will not alter the ‘with effect’ date of promotion, salary entitlements or your seniority for future promotion purposes. The opportunity to formally recognise promotion at section, flight or unit level is not forfeited, but cannot occur until your commander receives formal promotion notification.

Should you find yourself in a situation where your time promotion appears delayed, you should first confirm that all necessary competencies have been entered on PMKeyS, as this information is critical to the time promotion process.

 For more information, contact SGT Darryl Dimech for PAF officers on (02) 6265 2254, CPL Rebecca Phoenix for PAF airmen on (02) 6265 2305 or SGT Sharene Kropman for Reserves on (02) 6265 1855.

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