U.S. Air Force Selects 12,671 Senior Airmen for Staff Sergeant as Promotion Rate Falls to 31.86%
The U.S. Air Force has announced the promotion of 12,671 senior airmen to the rank of staff sergeant in the 2026 cycle. This marks a decrease from the previous year's promotion cycle, where nearly 15,900 senior airmen were promoted. The selection rate for this year stands at 31.86%, a drop from last year's 33.81%. The promotion list will be publicly available on Thursday. Historically, the Air Force saw its largest selection class in 2002, with a selection rate of 62.98%. The current cycle's promotions are still a significant increase from the lower numbers seen in 2022 and 2023. 
