The Situation: promotion practice

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Eric Devese
  • 436th Dental Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Every day, Team Dover members encounter and overcome situations that test their experience and skill. In "The Situation", service members share their advice on how to face these challenges head-on, and overcome them.

The Situation:
There are several things that are certain in life. Among them are death, taxes, and in the case as Air Force enlisted members, studying for promotion. Promotion is your opportunity to be recognized not only for the things that you've done, but also for the added responsibility you have proven you are ready for. Yet, so many of us allow this important opportunity to slip by and assume we'll catch the promotion cycle next year because testing is an annual event. A wise supervisor once told me since I was doing the work of the next stripe up, I should be rewarded for it.

The Solution:
Many people consider time, or lack thereof, to be their biggest enemy when it comes to studying for promotion. With proper preparation and planning you can make time work for you. All you need to do is provide the effort. Here's what I suggest: begin your study session four months before the beginning of your testing cycle. During this time you should cut out all extracurricular activities. For the first three months, set aside three hours a day for study. I know it seems like a lot, but it's not. Get up an hour earlier in the morning, use your lunch hour and one hour after work, and you've knocked your three hours out without disrupting your normal day. Simultaneously read and highlight your material during your hour. After each chapter, write notes of your highlighted information using a bullet format. Your notes should be short, simple and to the point about what you believe is important. Alternate study of your Professional Development Guide and Specialty Knowledge Test daily, this way you retain more information. Month four is used for review of your notes and any study aids you may use, leading up to your test date. The key is to study for a score of 100, not the cut off. Every Airman should have their own personal career goals that will make them the best Airman they can be. Promotion is your ticket to that obtainable future. Don't let time be your excuse. Good luck!

- Master Sgt. Eric Devese, the NCO in charge of the 436th Dental Squadron Dental Lab