The U.S. Air Force has rescinded 135 promotions to the rank of technical sergeant after discovering a scoring error on the Specialty Knowledge Test, an exam crucial for advancement. The mistake occurred when an outdated answer key was erroneously used to grade tests for security forces airmen.
Officials identified the error after the promotion list had already been released. Upon rescoring all 2,285 eligible exams using the correct answer key, it was determined that 135 airmen who had been selected for promotion no longer met the required cutoff score. Consequently, another 135 airmen who were initially passed over will now be promoted.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David R. Wolfe stated, “We owe it to those affected to address it immediately. This is going to be hard for everyone impacted.” The Air Force confirmed that the total number of promotions remains unchanged, with 451 of the original 586 selectees retaining their elevated status.
The service described the incident as an isolated case of human error that uniquely affected the security forces career field. Lt. Gen. Jefferson O’Donnell, the Air Force’s deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services, emphasized the importance of integrity in the meritocratic promotion system, stating, "Who we are as an Air Force, defined by our core values, demands integrity in the meritocratic promotion system."
The Air Force Personnel Center plans to issue a supplemental promotion release during the week of July 13, announcing the 135 newly selected technical sergeants. These airmen will receive adjusted line numbers that will not impede their promotion timeline.
Leaders are directly informing all affected personnel and have established a hotline to address concerns. The service is also reinforcing review procedures as the investigation into the exact cause of the error continues. Officials reiterated that the mistake was due to human error and not artificial intelligence. This promotion blunder follows other testing-related issues within the Air Force, including past investigations into alleged cheating incidents at the Air Force Academy.