Technical sergeants are the first rank whose enlisted performance report closeout dates will be standardized under sweeping changes to the Air Force's enlisted promotion system.
"Technical sergeant EPRs due between Aug. 15 and Nov. 30 will all shift to the Nov. 30 closeout date," said Will Brown, chief of the Air Force Personnel Center's Evaluation and Recognition Programs Branch. "What that means is evaluation periods during this initial crossover phase will range from 12 to 15 months. Annually, after that, all technical sergeants will have the same EPR closeout and will be assessed for the same number of days."
The change is the first in a series intended to ensure EPRs focus on job performance. Additional changes are planned over the next 18 months for active-duty airmen and over the next 30 months for the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard members.
Fixed closeout dates for each rank will level the playing field, since all airmen will be assessed for work done during the same time period, Brown said in a news release.
"When all airmen in a unit are assessed for accomplishments during the same time frame, factors like special events or increased workload will not unfairly favor one airman over another. Quality of performance then becomes the primary focus," he said.
Fixed dates also will enable raters, commanders and support staffs to plan for and schedule the workload, Brown said.
"EPRs take a lot of administrative time. Under the current system, leaders at every level work a constant flow of evaluations, which affects their ability to dedicate time to other mission requirements" he said. The fixed dates "will enable supervisors, raters and commanders to plan ahead, clear the deck, focus on the evaluations, and then turn to other duties."■
