ORLANDO, Fla. — The Air Force has the capability to switch from a paper-based system of testing enlisted airmen for promotion to an all-electronic system, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force James Cody said Thursday.

Cody made his comments at the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, in response to a question asking whether airmen would at some point be able to get their Weighted Airman Promotion System test scores immediately, through an electronic program.But the price tag required to make this change is currently placing it out of the Air Force's reach.

Cody said the Air Force has looked at such a move. But despite the advantages that would come with making a switch, Cody said it would cost more to bring in a new system than to stick with the old paper system.

"We have the technology to do it," Cody said. "But it's actually cheaper to keep printing the tests."

But Cody hasn't given up hope. He said the Air Force has asked the team looking at this issue to consider creating an enterprise solution to replace paper tests that could be more cost-effective.

"We can do it, it's just, can we get it in the budget?" Cody said.

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Stephen Losey covers personnel, promotions, and the Air Force Academy for Air Force Times. He can be reached at slosey@airforcetimes.com.