Paul D Emslie

This report examines alternative policies and practices to better align post-promotion board reporting with the objectives of promoting officers who have served on the Joint Staff and OSD staff at at least the same rate as those with service headquarters staff experience and of promoting joint-qualified officers and Acquisition Corps members at at least the same rate as line or equivalent officers in their services.

Given the need for more integrated human capital management, the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs asked RAND PAF to help improve Air Force capability to analyze and capitalize on military personnel flows across the total force. In response, RAND built the Total Force Flow Model. Its description and capabilities will interest manpower and personnel managers and analysts both in and outside the Air Force.

As the Air Force s operational environment has changed, more leadership responsibility is being pushed down to noncommissioned officers (NCOs). To ensure that it is selecting master sergeants (the first level of senior NCOs) who are able to fulfill these leadership responsibilities, RAND researchers assessed the current promotion system and explored areas for possible improvement."