Good bullet writing makes big career impact Published Aug. 17, 2011 By Airman 1st Class Heather Heiney 81st Training Wing Public Affairs KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- In the Air Force, there are two types of bullets -- the kind loaded into a weapon system and the kind used to evaluate Airmen's performance. Good bullet writing can make an impact on both the supervisor writing the bullet and the person being evaluated. "As supervisors, it builds our leadership influence and credibility, and it motivates others to work to their highest potential. As subordinates, it enhances our promotion selections and future job opportunities," said Senior Master Sgt. Vanessa Polk, director of education at the Mathies NCO Academy. Polk said that bullets affect careers in terms of awards, decorations, promotions, long-term records and potential retention. She also said that it's a supervisor's responsibility to honestly and accurately document performance and differentiate between the high and poor performers. "Our Airmen do great work and we need to effectively capture it in their enlisted performance reports and award packages. Bullet writing sets Airmen up for success," said Senior Master Sgt. Kimberlee Bauer, legal office superintendent. Chief Master Sgt. Curtis Jennings, 81st Mission Support Group superintendent, said to ask yourself, "Did the action save money or time? Did it improve a process or did it better the path for the people that follow it?" "You want to use your hardest hitting impact -- things you led and spearheaded are always best," said Jennings. The chief also suggested seeking advice from others. "Don't be bashful to seek a mentor or trusted agent to bounce something off of," Jennings said. "Don't be too proud to ask for help." Bauer said to look at the rank of the individual, because with more rank comes more responsibility and leadership skills. "What may be a great bullet for a senior airman wouldn't pass as a bullet for an NCO; you need to make sure the bullets align appropriately," Bauer said. "Skip the fluff and state the facts with impact." Polk suggested the following tips to make the bullet-writing process flow smoothly: Start early so you don't have to rush. Paint a clear picture of what took place and show how that event impacts the unit, base, Air Force and beyond. A good bullet quantifies with numbers, dollar amounts and percentages. It adds specifics so the reader isn't left assuming, guessing or questioning what it means. Typically, it should begin with an action verb, be on a single line and have two components -- an accomplishment element and an impact element. The two are separated by a double dash, a semicolon or a verb ending in "ing." It shouldn't be a complete sentence and is prefaced with a single dash. Teach your subordinates to track their accomplishments because it adds to their development. Document all significant happenings as they occur so details are captured while fresh. Think outside the box; don't repeat information from one EPR to the next. Use strong words that best describe the situation in as few words as possible. Consider the overall presentation -- How much white space is there? Does the entire package capture the whole-person concept? Be consistent with punctuation between the two elements. Think "big picture" and balance. Don't get caught up with insignificant specifics. In other words, select the right information and support. Seek feedback, and be open to the perspectives of others, especially those with proven successes like winning wing and major command packages. Always have someone check your work before submitting. Finally, practice writing bullets to improve. "For me, it's pride in ownership in knowing you are absolutely doing your best when it comes to setting your Airmen up for success; effective writing skills can have an impact on Airmen for their entire career," said Bauer.