No Promotion Is Ever Automatic or Retro-Active. After interns graduate from the PAQ program, they are eligible to compete for other positions in the Air Force. All subsequent promotions are competitive and require one year time in grade. Annual Appraisals - The appraisal and rating of each intern's job performance is based on written performance elements and standards. A performance element describes what needs to be done to perform a particular job.
Elements describe major and important requirements of the job, which are used to rate performance.
Performance elements are descriptive and relate to what needs to be done. Performance standards prescribe how a particular element is to be accomplished. Standards structure clear performance expectations between the intern and supervisor. They also provide a means to measure success in terms of how well the job is performed. PAQ interns are required to have an initial 90-day appraisal, quarterly evaluations, and annual appraisals.