Roger that ... technically I sat on IMLRs and MLRs, however, that would be speaking chineese to most on this board, so I just used the blanket term "Promotion Board". The IMLR (Base Level) and MLR (MAJCOM Level) are where the remaining aggregate DP's are given out (left over from Wing/CC's and other Senior Raters). There are 1Lt's and Captains that do sit on promotion boards, but they are there for administrivia purposes only, which is the same function that I served on the IMLRs and MLRs ... we get all the packages together, separate the DP's, P's, and DNP's, etc... basically whatever the generals need done to make the process go smoother.
On a side note, to the poster that stated he had his or a buddies PRF go up to the promotion board blank, I just cannot see how that can happen. There are way too many checks and balances for this to happen. Take any of the below boards for 2012 ... at each of the dates on the left, that PRF would be going through the SQ Exec, SQ/CC, Group Exec, Group/CC, Wing Exec, and finally Wing/CC. After it goes back and forth between them a few times, it gets turned in to the local MPF to go up to the IMLR and then MLR (all three of these would have an admin staff that would go through each package 1 by 1). After all three of these, the PRF would go to AFPC, and then to the board. Having been a Group Exec, Wing Exec, and sitting on an IMLR and MLR, I just cannot fathom that a package can make it to the promotion board "blank" (unless it's a DP for Captain or an O-6 that's not making O-7, these are the only times a PRF will be blank).
On the topic at hand, I think it's ridiculous that rated officers aren't "auto-selected" to O-3 after all the training spent on you guys. If the member has some failed PT tests, UIF, DUI, Article 15, sure, cut his ass regardless of AFSC.
One other misconception on the promotion process that I've seen being thrown around here ... there are only TWO documents that meet a promotion board, your DQHB (essentially your official SURF) and your PRF. The board does not see any of your training reports, OPRs, Decoration write-ups, etc... So for the few that have been claiming "maybe a missing training report was the reason 1st Lt was non-selected", is most likely not true.
Would be happy to clarify any other questions for the Lt's on the promotion process.