Nine A1Cs get third stripe early Published June 24, 2010 By John Cochran 377 Air Base Wing Public Affairs Kirtland Air Force Base, NM -- The second-quarter Kirtland AFB below-the-zone board selected nine Team Kirtland Airmen First Class for early promotion to Senior Airmen. The BTZ program provides an opportunity for exceptionally well-qualified airmen first class a one-time consideration for promotion to senior airman, effective six months before the fixed fully qualified phase point. Selection opportunity is 15 percent of the total time-in-grade and time-in-service eligible population.