What rank must a Senior Airman achieve before they can compete for BTZ?

To compete for Below-The-Zone (BTZ) promotion, a Senior Airman must already hold the rank of Senior Airman (SrA). BTZ is a competitive program designed to recognize and promote outstanding Airmen ahead of their peers. Since the competition is specifically for the next rank, which is Staff Sergeant (SSgt), candidates must already be a Senior Airman to be eligible to participate. This eligibility is based on the idea that those competing are demonstrating exceptional performance and potential while already in the SrA rank. Therefore, achieving the rank of Senior Airman is a prerequisite for engaging in the BTZ process, making this the correct answer.