Air Force Promotions: Air Force promotions to ranks of staff sergeant, master sergeant and chief master sergeant will not be delayed because of the war on terrorism. Personnel officials made adjustments to the promotion system after determining some airmen will not be able to attend required enlisted professional military education courses because of current operations. Airmen must attend airman leadership, noncommissioned officer and senior noncommissioned officer courses as they progress up the ranks; most courses last three to six weeks. But the waiver, which will be granted on a case-by-case basis, means those airmen could attend the PMEs after being promoted.