SrA BTZ? Click here to comment
An explanation of what Senior Airman Below-The-Zone is; I have a chance to be promoted to the next enlisted rank 6 months early.
Dig deep. What does this mean? I can become a Senior Airman (SrA) 6 months before my automatic promotion date. I can get paid SrA pay (any increase in pay is welcome, always) 6 months early.
Dig deeper. I have to be *selected* for this. Every quarter there is a process where eligible Airmen First Class (A1Cs) are submitted to get this award. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. If I get it, it’s a HUGE step in my career in the military.
Dig deepest. I have to be *SELECTED* out of a pool of my peers for this. I have the chance to be selected and designated as “out of all these people, we chose you”. The United States Air Force, putting in my charge not only an award of the next rank, but as a matter of facts-and-figures putting their money where their mouth is. This isn’t some rotating award that gets awarded around the squadron, like (from what I’ve seen) the dorm inspection award or even the quarterly/annual awards. This is THE award for airmen of my rank. If you get this, you are the military shit as far as most USAF enlisted personnel are concerned.
So I have this board tomorrow. It’s a face board for Senior Airman Below-The-Zone. It’s a small room, just me and a panel of senior-ranking military personnel asking me various questions about different aspects of enlisted service in the USAF. I must retain my military bearing and remain communicative. I must NOT lock up and stutter and be a nervous wreck.
I will succeed.
-TJ