SPFI 36-2502: Enlisted Guardian Promotion and Demotion Programs

SPFI 36-2502 — index record

Number	SPFI 36-2502
Title	Enlisted Guardian Promotion and Demotion Programs
Published	September 11, 2024
Certified current	September 11, 2024
Guidance memorandum	October 5, 2026
Office of primary responsibility	USSF
Issued by	United States Space Force (Space Force level)
Status on the index	Current
Last index action	GM, October 6, 2026
Source index	Air Force e-Publishing (Space Force publications)
Index last read	October 20, 2026

Copied from Air Force e-Publishing (Space Force publications) (index). The publication itself is the authority; this page does not summarize or interpret it. Verify the current edition on the index before acting.

From the publication itself

Text below is lifted mechanically from the official PDF (52 pages, read October 20, 2026) with no editing or interpretation. Quote the document, not this page.

Purpose, in the publication’s words

This publication implements Department of Air Force Policy Directive (DAFPD) 36-25, Military Promotion and Demotion. This instruction applies to the uniformed members of the United States Space Force (USSF). This instruction does not apply to the United States Air Force. This instruction requires the collection and/or maintenance of information protected by the Privacy Act of 1974 authorized by Department of Defense Instruction 5400.11, DoD Privacy and Civil Liberties Programs. The applicable System of Records Notices (SORNS) are F036 AFPC C, Military Personnel Records Systems, F036 AFPC J, Promotions Documents and Records Tracking (PRODART) and F036 AFPC K, Enlisted Promotion Testing Record Approval Systems are available at: http://dpclo.defense.gov/Privacy/SORNs.aspx . Any requests for records or documents contained in these SORNS will be processed under the Freedom of Information Act guidelines outlined in DoDM 5400.07_AFMAN33-302, Freedom of Information Act Program,

Chapter 1—GUARDIAN PROMOTION PROGRAM ELEMENTSp. 6
Chapter 2—GUARDIAN PROMOTIONS TO GRADES SPC2 THROUGH CMSGTp. 16
Chapter 4—GUARDIAN PROMOTION ACTIONSp. 41
Chapter 5—ADMINSTRATIVE DEMOTION OF GUARDIANSp. 47
Chapter 6—TOTAL FORCE SPECIAL PROMOTION PROGRAMSp. 55
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 59

All 71 contents entries

Chapter 1—GUARDIAN PROMOTION PROGRAM ELEMENTSp. 6
1.1. Roles and Responsibilitiesp. 6
1.2. Promotion Authorityp. 6
1.3. Announcement of Promotion Dates and Quotasp. 7
1.4. Establishing Dates of Rank and Promotion Sequence Numbersp. 7
1.5. Determining Promotion Ineligibilityp. 7
1.6. Accepting Promotionp. 7
1.7. Promotion Ceremoniesp. 8
1.8. Declining Promotionp. 8
1.9. Enlisted Professional Military Education (EPME) Requirementsp. 8
1.10. Degree Requirementsp. 8
1.11. Correcting Enlistment Gradesp. 8
1.12. Correcting Promotion Effective Dates and Dates of Rankp. 9
1.13. Inter-Service Transfer (IST) promotion eligibility code correctionp. 9
Chapter 2—GUARDIAN PROMOTIONS TO GRADES SPC2 THROUGH CMSGTp. 16
2.1. Specialist 2 and Specialist 3 Promotions (see Table 1.3.)p. 16
2.2. Specialist 4 Promotions (see Table 1.3.)p. 16
2.3. Spc4 Below-The-Zone Promotion Programp. 16
2.4. Central Board Processp. 18
2.5. Supplemental Below-The-Zone Considerationp. 19
2.6. Sgt, TSgtp. 20
2.7. Supplemental Promotions for Sgt through CMSgtp. 22
2.8. Inter-Service Transfer (IST) Promotionsp. 24
3.1. Generalp. 33
3.2. Responsibilitiesp. 33
3.3. Rules Governing All Boardsp. 33
3.4. Board Membershipp. 33
3.5. Board Member Preparationp. 34
3.6. Scoring Recordsp. 34
3.7. Defining “Splits.”p. 35
3.8. Resolving “Splits.”p. 35
3.9. New Documentsp. 35
3.10. Promotion Quota Computationp. 35
3.11. Establishing “Cut Linesp. 35
3.12. Establishing the “Gray Areap. 36
3.13. Board President Quality Reviewp. 36
3.14. Gray Area Resolutionp. 36
3.15. Out-brief Board Membersp. 36
3.16. Board Reportp. 36
3.17. Board Anomaliesp. 37
3.18. Benchmark Recordsp. 37
3.19. Supplemental Boardsp. 37
3.20. Disclosure of Board Proceedingsp. 39
3.21. Summaryp. 40
Chapter 4—GUARDIAN PROMOTION ACTIONSp. 41
4.1. Officer Training Candidatesp. 41
4.2. Non-recommending, Deferring, and Withholding Promotionsp. 43
4.3. Promotion Reinstatementp. 45
4.4. Applying for Correction of Recordsp. 46
Chapter 5—ADMINSTRATIVE DEMOTION OF GUARDIANSp. 47
5.1. Demotionsp. 47
5.2. Who Can Demotep. 48
5.3. Reasons to Demotep. 48
5.4. How to Process a Demotionp. 49
5.5. How to Process an Appealp. 51
5.6. How to Apply for Retirementp. 51
5.7. Grades to Demote Guardiansp. 52
5.8. How to Determine the Date of Rankp. 52
5.9. When to Announce and Revoke Demotionsp. 52
5.10. How to Publish Demotion Ordersp. 53
5.11. The Demotion Authorityp. 53
5.12. Documenting Demotion Actionsp. 53
Chapter 6—TOTAL FORCE SPECIAL PROMOTION PROGRAMSp. 55
6.1. Promoting Guardians in Missing Statusp. 55
6.2. Promoting Enlisted Medal of Honor Recipientsp. 55
6.3. Promoting Prior-Service Guardians and Former Officersp. 55
6.4. Promoting Guardians During Declared National Emergency or Warp. 55
6.5. Space Force Wounded Warrior Programp. 56
6.6. Posthumous Promotionsp. 56
6.7. Frocking to the Rank of Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt)p. 57
Attachment 1—GLOSSARY OF REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING INFORMATIONp. 59

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SPFI 36-2502

SPFI 36-2502 — index record

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