Enlisted Performance Report
Encyclopedia
An Enlisted Performance Report (EPR) is an evaluation form
used by the United States Air Force
. Instructions for constructing an EPR appear in chapter 3 of Air Force Instruction 36-2406: Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems. The EPR replaced the Airman Performance Report (APR) in the late 1980s.
The USAF commissioned officer equivalent is the Officer Performance Report (OPR). The United States Navy
equivalent is the Fitness Report
(FITREP). The United States Army
equivalent is the Enlisted Evaluation Report
(EER).
Although the bulk of the evaluation is focused on their duty (job) performance, enlisted members are also evaluated on their off-duty performance in areas such as volunteerism and continuing education. This is arguably the biggest difference between the Air Force EPR and civilian counterparts.
Personnel who have left the Air Force and are seeking jobs in the civilian world will sometimes use EPRs to augment their résumé
.
(CAC).
The implementation dates of the new versions were as follows:
The format for entries in the Enlisted Performance Report continues to be the "bullet statement format".
Performance appraisal
A performance appraisal, employee appraisal, performance review, or development discussion is a method by which the job performance of an employee is evaluated typically by the corresponding manager or supervisor. A performance appraisal is a part of guiding and managing career development...
used by the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. Instructions for constructing an EPR appear in chapter 3 of Air Force Instruction 36-2406: Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems. The EPR replaced the Airman Performance Report (APR) in the late 1980s.
The USAF commissioned officer equivalent is the Officer Performance Report (OPR). The United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
equivalent is the Fitness Report
Fitness Report
An Fitness Report is an evaluation form used by the United States Navy.The United States Air Force equivalent is the Enlisted Performance Report . The United States Army equivalent is the Enlisted Evaluation Report ....
(FITREP). The United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
equivalent is the Enlisted Evaluation Report
Enlisted Evaluation Report
An Enlisted Evaluation Report is an evaluation form used by the United States Army.The Army commissioned officer equivalent is the Officer Evaluation Report . The United States Navy equivalent is the Fitness Report . The United States Air Force equivalent is the Enlisted Performance Report ....
(EER).
Purpose
- To provide meaningful feedback to individuals on what is expected of them, advice on how well they are meeting those expectations, and advice on how to better meet those expectations.
- To provide a reliable, long-term, cumulative record of performance and potential based on that performance.
- To provide officer central selection boards, senior NCO evaluation boards, the Weighted Airman Promotion SystemWeighted Airman Promotion SystemThe Weighted Airman Promotion System is a United States Air Force program that determines who will be promoted to the ranks of Staff Sergeant through Master Sergeant and provides feedback score sheets to enlisted members considered for promotion. These score sheets help the individual determine...
(WAPS), and other personnel managers sound information to assist in identifying the best qualified enlisted personnel. In WAPS, past EPRs are worth up to 135 points.
Evaluation
An EPR evaluates the performance of an enlisted member both on and off duty. The period of time covered by the EPR is normally no less than 120 days and no longer than 365 days. A scale of 1 to 5 is used as an overall rating of the member's performance with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. EPRs are normally written by the member's supervisor with additional input provided by their supervisor's supervisor.Although the bulk of the evaluation is focused on their duty (job) performance, enlisted members are also evaluated on their off-duty performance in areas such as volunteerism and continuing education. This is arguably the biggest difference between the Air Force EPR and civilian counterparts.
Personnel who have left the Air Force and are seeking jobs in the civilian world will sometimes use EPRs to augment their résumé
Résumé
A résumé is a document used by individuals to present their background and skillsets. Résumés can be used for a variety of reasons but most often to secure new employment. A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education...
.
Stratification statements
Stratification statements can only be used on EPRs for SNCOs who are time-in-grade eligible for senior rater endorsement. Stratification statements on these EPRs may be used by all evaluators endorsing the EPR (immediate rater, additional rater and final evaluator). Stratification statements must be stated in quantitative terms (#1 of 125 MSgts) and will be based on the number of peers (in the same grade as the ratee) assigned within the evaluator’s rating scheme. Stratification statements on all other performance reports, to include CMSgt reports, are strictly prohibited.New EPR format
On 12 July 2007 the Air Force announced a major overhaul of the content of the EPR and OPR reports in an effort to decrease the time required to accomplish the report. EPR narrative comments were significantly reduced and performance assessment areas now reflect the increased responsibility Airmen are charged with as they progress in rank. A section on physical fitness was added, with those scoring less than 75 receiving a referral report. Another new feature of the EPR is the ratee's signature as well as the use of digital signatures using the Common Access CardCommon Access Card
The Common Access Card is a United States Department of Defense smart card issued as standard identification for active-duty military personnel, reserve personnel, civilian employees, other non-DoD government employees, state employees of the National Guard, and eligible contractor personnel.The...
(CAC).
The implementation dates of the new versions were as follows:
- Senior Master SergeantSenior Master SergeantSenior Master Sergeant is the eighth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Master Sergeant and below Chief Master Sergeant and is a senior non-commissioned officer ....
: Aug. 1, 2007 - Chief Master SergeantChief Master SergeantCMSgt ChevronChief Master Sergeant is the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Senior Master Sergeant, and is a senior non-commissioned officer. The official term of address is "Chief Master Sergeant" or "Chief".Attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergeant is the...
: Aug. 15, 2007 - Airman BasicAirman BasicAirman Basic is the lowest enlisted rank in the United States Air Force , immediately below Airman. The pay grade for Airman Basic is E-1.As opposed to all other USAF enlisted and officer ranks, Airman Basic has no rank insignia affiliated...
to Senior AirmanSenior AirmanSenior airman is the fourth enlisted rank in the United States Air Force, just above airman first class and below staff sergeant. It has a pay grade of E-4...
: Aug. 15, 2007 - Master SergeantMaster SergeantA master sergeant is the military rank for a senior non-commissioned officer in some armed forces.-Israel Defense Forces:Rav samal rishoninsignia IDF...
: Oct. 1, 2007 - Staff SergeantStaff SergeantStaff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...
: Jan. 1, 2008 - Technical SergeantTechnical SergeantTechnical Sergeant is the name of one current and two former enlisted ranks in the United States military.-United States Air Force:Technical Sergeant, or Tech Sergeant, is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, just above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant. A technical sergeant is...
: Jan. 1, 2008 - Premier Band (3N2X1): April 1, 2008
The format for entries in the Enlisted Performance Report continues to be the "bullet statement format".
Criticism
The EPR system has come under heavy criticism from all ranks in the Air Force. The primary complaint is that the system has become inflated. While technically the 1 through 5 scale is supposed to award an "average" performer a 3 and the 5 should be reserved for members that are "Truly Among the Best", the practice has been that nearly all personnel receive a 5 unless there are major disciplinary problems. The 2010 SSgt promotion cycle statistics show that the average eligible SrA received 128.79 points from a possible 135 from their EPR ratings, meaning the average eligible tester received one "4" and two "5" ratings. A cause may be that there is no additional guidance on the definition of a truly stellar member, and the deciding factor is most often other portions of WAPS testing, where PERFORMANCE is meant to be rated.Examples
- http://www.wantscheck.com/More/OPREPRBulletTools/tabid/87/Default.aspx
- Enlisted Performance Report Information and Examples
External links
- Air Force Form 910, Enlisted Performance Report (AB through TSgt)
- Air Force Form 911, Senior Enlisted Performance Report (MSgt through CMSgt)
- Air Force Instruction 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems
- Air Force streamlines officer, enlisted evaluation forms, 7/12/2007, Air Force Print News
- One critic of the current EPR proposes an alernate one