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Personnel team conducts enlisted evaluations, promotions town hall briefing

  • Published
  • 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  Personnel from Headquarters Air Force and the Air Force Personnel Center visited Cannon to conduct town halls, including leadership briefings July 1.

During the town hall sessions, the personnel team explained changes already implemented, those scheduled for implementation in the coming months and the reasons for the changes to the Enlisted Evaluation System and the Weighted Airman Promotion System.

Air Commandos who attended the briefings were also provided an opportunity to ask questions and share their observations with senior leaders present regarding the most comprehensive update to these systems in 45 years.

"This is one of the most significant changes to the enlisted evaluation and promotion system in a generation,” said Maj. Gen. Peggy Poore, AFPC commander. “We feel it is important to bring this information directly to commanders and Airmen, and allow them to ask questions and get immediate answers from the experts."

Below are questions and answers to consider regarding some of the changes highlighted:

When will my EPR closeout?
All reports will be completed on a SCOD based on current grade. Chief master sergeants will close in May; senior master sergeants in July; master sergeants in September; technical sergeants in November; staff sergeants in January; and senior airmen and below in March.

What is the purpose of having a static closeout date for EPRs?
Static closeout dates allow commanders to compare their Airmen by grade, provide specific dates for commanders to use when making forced distribution decisions and ensure each promotion eligible Airman has a performance report on file reflecting their most recent performance when calculating WAPS points. In addition, this provides leadership, commander’s support staffs, and military personnel sections with an anticipated workload as all evaluations for a specific grade will close out the same date annually.

When will Airmen be rated using the new forms?
The new chief master sergeant EPR was published May 29. The AF Form 911 has already been released and the AF Form 910 is expected to be released in September.

How will Physical Training failures be documented on the new forms?
Failure to have a current or passing PT score (or a current exemption) by the SCOD will render an Airman ineligible for promotion during that cycle. A failure within the reporting period may be annotated, at the rater’s discretion, in the rater’s performance assessment on a chief master sergeant report, in the Performance in Leadership/Primary Duties/Followership/Training section on a master sergeant through senior master sergeant report, and in the Followership/Leadership section on an airman basic through technical sergeant report.

It is at the commander’s discretion to codify a fitness failure and non-current fitness status at the SCOD in a referral EPR. It is no longer mandatory for the fitness failure to be a referral EPR, but can be at the rater’s or commander’s discretion. Changes to current fitness and rating policies to incorporate this new policy are underway and will be released in the coming months.

Why did you create a new EPR form for chief master sergeants and why is it so different from the others?
The chief EPR form is intended to capture a chief’s overall performance and provide the opportunity to recommend the ratee for future roles, including command chief duty. The new form will serve as the senior rater’s tool to nominate chief master sergeants for the Air Force Command Chief Screening Board, replacing the current nomination process. Senior raters will identify those chiefs they feel are capable of serving with increased responsibility, those they feel should remain in their current duty/level of responsibility, and those they would not consider for roles with increased responsibilities.

The rater and senior rater collectively may enter up to five lines, documenting the chief’s duty performance and accomplishments during the rating period. The 5 line maximum consequently serves as the senior rater’s “push” for those chiefs being nominated to the Air Force’s annual Command Chief Screening Board; replacing the current “5-Line” nomination process.

Why did the Air Force choose to eliminate Change of Reporting Official reports?
The elimination of about 37,000 CRO evaluations each year will ultimately save Airmen time and will significantly reduce the workload placed on supervisors, raters, local commander’s support staffs, military personnel flights, and the AFPC. With all EPRs for each respective grade closing out at the same time, CROs will no longer be needed.

What if I am on a 365-deployment or are a permanent party member in the Area of Responsibility?
Airmen on 365 or ITDY deployment will have their evaluations completed by their administrative (home station) commander who is also their forced distribution authority. Permanent Party AOR Airmen will have their evaluations completed by their AOR senior rater or Forced Distribution Command authority (i.e., AOR commander).

How will EPR changes affect special duty assignment and developmental duty assignment selection?
Special duty and developmental duty assignment selection criteria will be adjusted in the future to accommodate the changed system and will focus on the performance assessment section of the new report. Addionally, Professional Military Education is moving toward a blended approach with new selection criteria based on time in service; EPRs will not be a factor for attendance.

What does “forced distribution” mean and specifically how will Airmen be affected?
Forced distribution limits the number of top two promotion recommendations a commander is authorized to allocate to promotion-eligible Airmen. The restrictions under forced distribution are tied to historical promotion rates in each grade based on core AFSCs. The intent is to ensure those Airmen receiving a “Promote Now” and “Must Promote” have a distinct advantage for promotion; however, those receiving a “Promote” will still have an opportunity for promotion. The total number of forced distribution quotas is based on the total number of promotion-eligible Airmen a commander has in a specific grade on the SCOD.

What are the types of promotion recommendations and how do they differ?
Promote Now – The top promotion recommendation that a ratee can receive. This recommendation is for the exemplary performers who far exceed Air Force standards and expectations. Airmen receiving this recommendation will have a significant promotion advantage.

Must Promote – Reserved for those being recommended for accelerated promotion that are performing well above their peers and above Air Force standards and expectations. These Airmen will have a distinct promotion advantage

Promote – The promotion recommendation the majority of Airmen will receive. This recommendation signifies an Airman is being recommended for promotion based on their performance at or above Air Force standards and expectations.

Not Ready Now – The Airmen is not ready at this time for promotion based on the need for additional grooming in the current grade, or if the Airmen requires specific attention with regard to their performance related to Air Force standards and expectations. This recommendation does not automatically constitute a referral.

Do Not Promote – Used when Airmen demonstrate unacceptable performance, fail to adhere to Air Force standards and expectations, or their actions were incompatible with continued Air Force service. A “DNP” evaluation must have already been referred based on negative comments or derogatory information that reflected the “DNP” recommendation.

When a report contains negative comments, derogatory information, or has a performance assessment rating of “Met Some But Not All Expectations,” a ratee may not receive anything higher than a “Promote” recommendation.

How will EPRs now be calculated for WAPS?
Under the revised system, when an Airman has three years or more in the eligibility window, the top EPR is worth 50 percent, the middle EPR is worth 30 percent and the oldest of the three EPRs is worth 20 percent of the weighted EPR points. If an Airman has only two promotion-eligible EPRs, then the top EPR is worth 60 percent of the weighted EPR points and the bottom EPR is worth 40 percent. For Airmen with only one promotion eligible EPR, it is worth 100 percent of their weighted EPR points. These changes also increase emphasis on an Airman’s most recent duty performance.

Why has the Air Force reduced the WAPS time-in-grade and time-in-service points?
Changes to the WAPS model include a reduction in the points associated with time in service and time in grade to place further emphasis on performance. The multipliers for calculating total time-in-grade and time-in-service points will be reduced by one third for the 2015 promotion cycle, and future reductions are planned for subsequent years which could ultimately result in complete elimination as the ongoing calculation adjustments continue to be reassessed each year.

Will decoration or Skills Knowledge Test and Promotion Fitness Examination WAPS points be changed?
There is currently no plan to change the decoration, SKT, or PFE points as calculated under WAPS; however, the Air Force is implementing minimum score requirements on both the SKT and PFE. Airmen must achieve a minimum score of 40 on each promotion examination with a minimum combined score from both examinations of 90 or higher. An Airman scoring a 40 on either the SKT or the PFE will be required to score a minimum of 50 or higher on their other examination.

For SNCOs administered the U.S. Air Force Supervisory Examination, a minimum score of 45 will be required for promotion consideration. Additionally, those Airmen testing PFE only, to include those who have recently gone through retraining, will have their PFE score doubled during the promotion calculation. Airmen in this category will require a minimum score of 45 for a total of 90 points after the examination score is doubled. Airmen who fail to obtain the required minimum scores will be considered promotion non-selects.

For a more comprehensive list of changes and information regarding EES and WAPS, visit the myPers website. Individuals who do not have a myPers account can request one by following instructions on the Air Force Retirees Services website.

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