Expert: Cynthia Bedell - 2/5/2009

Question
My son is an E-4 in the Air Force. He received a dui while on leave.  He appeared before his commanding officer (Colonel).  He most likely will be demoted.  When you are demoted from E-4 to E-3, how long are you normally in that lower grade before you can retain your previous rank?

Answer
Dear Robert --

The times required to become eligible for promotion vary by the services and the current needs of the service.

If your son is put on a bar to re-enlistment, he cannot be promoted until he "earns" his way off the bar.

If he is not barred, he will need at least six months to prove himself eligible to compete on the local promotion board.  Sometimes, a ninety-day exception can be made for an airman who has performed exceptionally, but had one mess-up.

Tell your son to show his merit by continuing to perform at a high level, and he can regain his rank and his credibility with his command.  This misstep can be readily overcome, and he can go on to succeed at very high level, if he learns from and does not repeat this mistake.

Good luck to him.