8.3 Preparation and Responsibilities (AFH-1 Section 9C)

8.3 Preparation and Responsibilities (AFH-1 Section 9C)

Quick Answer: Preparing for promotion testing is an individual responsibility. Know your eligibility, keep specialty and military qualifications, start a self-study plan, obtain Enlisted Promotions References and Requirements Catalog (EPRRC) references, keep the selection folder accurate if a central evaluation board will see it, and be ready on the first day of the testing window. Group study (two or more people) for enlisted promotion testing is strictly prohibited and is an Article 92 issue under DAFMAN 36-2664. Review the Data Verification Record (DVR) in ARMS/PRDA; it is not a Data Verification Brief or a SURF.

Section 9C is ADTC B for SSgt and TSgt. Test writing, the catalog’s 1 October line, and board scoring belong to 9D–9E.

Individual responsibility is not optional

Paragraph 9.10: preparing for promotion testing is an individual responsibility, and that importance cannot be overemphasized. Members unavailable during the entire testing cycle must test before they depart, even before the first day of the cycle. Airmen may test early if the correct test booklets are available.

Responsibilities checklist (AFH 1, 9.10–9.14)

• Know eligibility status before the window opens.
• Maintain specialty and military qualifications through PECD and the effective date.
• Initiate a self-study plan—not a shop “WAPS night.”
• Obtain all applicable EPRRC study references.
• If a central evaluation board will see the record, keep the selection folder accurate.
• Be ready on the first day of the testing window.
• If you will miss the entire cycle, test before departure when the correct materials exist.
• Have access to references at least 60 days before the scheduled test date; request a delay if you do not (DAFMAN 36-2664).
• Review the DVR in ARMS/PRDA; immediately contact the MPF if anything is wrong, then re-review the update.
• Do not treat the DVR as a Data Verification Brief or a SURF.

Enlisted promotion test compromise

Use a self-initiated program of individual study under WAPS. Group study (two or more people) for enlisted promotion testing is strictly prohibited so scores reflect individual knowledge. Violators are subject to Article 92, UCMJ, for violating a lawful general regulation. AFH 1 states conviction can bring a dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for up to two years. The reference is DAFMAN 36-2664.

Training to improve general military knowledge is not group study if the intent is not to study for promotion tests. Training on study habits or test-taking skills is permissible if it does not focus on preparing for promotion tests. A “PFE question club” fails both tests.

Restrictions you should expect in stems

• Discussing promotion test content with anyone other than the test control officer or test examiner is prohibited. Written inquiries go to the test control officer.
• Sharing recalled questions from a current or previous test, personal study materials, underlined or highlighted study references, and commercial study guides is prohibited.
• Commercial study-guide software on government computers is prohibited. Airmen may use commercial materials, but the USAF does not recommend, endorse, or support commercial study guides.
• Creating, storing, or transferring personal study notes on government computers is prohibited. Government computers may only view official electronic study references.

Getting the references—and the 60-day clock

The Barnes Center for Enlisted Education, Air Force Career Development Academy provides promotion-eligible members access to WAPS Career Development Courses at the USAF Enlisted Promotion Study Guides website (https://www.studyguides.af.mil/), updated to coincide with EPRRC release. Instructions, manuals, and technical orders are on the Air Force Departmental Publishing Office site (https://www.e-publishing.af.mil/) or other approved repositories. Ask the unit WAPS monitor to order catalog material that is not locally available. DAFMAN 36-2664: promotion-eligible Airmen must have access to reference materials at least 60 days before the scheduled test date. If not, the Airman may request a delay in testing.

Promotion eligibility cutoff date

The PECD sets eligibility and the cutoff for selection-folder contents and promotion evaluation brief data. Board-bound SNCOs see that data on the SNCO evaluation brief. A reporting identifier or special duty identifier that is the control AFSC on PECD competes inside that identifier. Otherwise MSgt to SMSgt competes in the superintendent level, and SMSgt to CMSgt in the chief enlisted manager code, of the control AFSC as of PECD.

Data Verification Record

The DVR is used for promotion consideration and is the most important completeness check. Review it in ARMS/PRDA. On an error, immediately contact the MPF; the MPF updates MilPDS and the DVR on vMPF; then re-review. Do not confuse it with the Data Verification Brief or a SURF.

DVR review steps: USAF Portal → PRDA → My Sections → PRDA. Selection Folder = “As Is” record. Board category = “As Met” record.

NCO scenario. Two SSgts highlighting the same AFH 1 PDF and quizzing each other is group study plus sharing highlighted references. A deployer who will miss the whole window tests before departure. A missing decoration on the DVR is an immediate MPF problem, not a wait. Testing procedures and board scoring are 9D–9E.