Aug. 25, 2016 Air Force selects 16,506 for promotion to staff sergeant The Air Force has selected 16,506 senior airmen for promotion to staff sergeant of the 39,064 eligible. The overall selection rate was 42.25 percent, with an average selectee overall score of 360.88. Officials selected 2,318 Airmen with a Promote Now recommendation for 14.04 percent of the total