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‘This is going to be hard’: Air Force reverses 135 promotions after grading error on test
By Amanda Alvarado at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate)
· July 9, 2026
· 1 min read
(Gray News) - The Air Force is reversing more than 100 promotions after a scoring error on a key advancement exam was discovered.The Air Force said an outdated scoring key was used for the exam for security forces personnel competing for promotion to technical sergeant.More than 2,200 exams were ...
Key takeaway The review found that 135 airmen were wrongly told they had earned promotions, while another 135 who should have been selected were left off the list.
Why this matters in The Nashville
The reversal of 135 promotions due to a grading error on a key advancement exam will likely have a ripple effect on the local community, where many Air Force personnel and their families reside. Nashville 's proximity to several major military installations means that a significant number of airmen call the city home, and the impact of this mistake will be felt by those who were wrongly told they had earned promotions, as well as those who were overlooked. The Air Force's commitment to promoting airmen based on merit will be closely watched in the coming weeks, as the 135 airmen who were incorrectly selected for promotion will have to come to terms with the reversal, while another 135 who were initially overlooked will now receive the recognition they deserve. The city's support networks for military families will likely play a crucial role in helping those affected by the error to navigate this challenging situation.
About this story
Original reporting by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . The Nashville surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 9, 2026 ·
Source: WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) ·
Reading time: 1 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? (Gray News) - The Air Force is reversing more than 100 promotions after a scoring error on a key advancement exam was discovered.The Air Force said an outdated scoring key was used for the exam for security forces personnel competing for promotion to technical sergeant.More than 2,200 exams were ...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 9, 2026 by WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate) and curated for The Nashville readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Amanda Alvarado at WSMV 4 News (NBC affiliate). To learn more about how The Nashville selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The Nashville, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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