What’s the Dif?

Airmen attending the Command Chief Master Sergeants Forum Tuesday at AFA’s Air & Space Conference in Washington expressed some concern that the service was opting to use a “virtual release” to notify those on the November promotion lists, instead of the usually official word through an individual’s supervisor. CMSgt. Lewis Monroe III, command chief for the Air Force District of Washington, acknowledged that he “was at first taken aback, but senior people letting airmen know they’d been promoted wasn’t what was happening anyway.” He added: “Let’s face it, your commander was the last to know you were promoted. [Laughter] You know it’s true.” And, CMSAF Rodney McKinley explained that the new practice would end the long wait for that official notification and the need to feign surprise at the news. He said, “In the end it’s just an emotional thing.”