Below the zone (BTZ) is a competitive early
promotion
Promotion may refer to:
Marketing
* Promotion (marketing), one of the four marketing mix elements, comprising any type of marketing communication used to inform or persuade target audiences of the relative merits of a product, service, brand or i ...
program offered to enlisted
U.S. Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Sign ...
personnel in the grade of
Airman First Class/E-3. This early promotion opportunity is restricted to exceptional Airmen who stand out from their peers and perform duties at a level above their current rank. Selection opportunity is 15 percent of the total time-in-grade (TIG) and time-in-service (TIS) eligible population. Airmen selected for BTZ are nominated by their chain of command, and then usually appear before a board of judges, a board generally composed of their base's senior leadership (depending on unit size.) A "package", reviewed by the panel of judges, is also constructed for each competing Airman listing in bulleted format his/her major accomplishments and attributes. Upon selection for promotion, the Airmen will then receive a date upon which their newly assigned
rank
Rank is the relative position, value, worth, complexity, power, importance, authority, level, etc. of a person or object within a ranking, such as:
Level or position in a hierarchical organization
* Academic rank
* Diplomatic rank
* Hierarchy
* H ...
of
Senior Airman will take effect. The effective date of promotion is six months earlier than the normal promotion date, hence "below the (promotion) zone".
References
Air Force Senior Airman (E-4) Below the Zone Promotions: Fact Sheet
United States Air Force