Enlisted evaluation, promotion systems to use new EPR forms, forced distribution, stratification restrictions

Published June 22, 2015
By Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- With static closeout dates for each rank in place, the Air Force announced it will update the enlisted performance report forms and utilize new forced distribution and senior rater stratification restrictions to round out the incremental changes to enlisted evaluation and promotion systems with performance as the driving factor in promotions.

For technical sergeants and below, forced distribution limits the top-two promotion recommendations a commander is authorized to give to promotion-eligible Airmen. The restrictions under forced distribution are tied to historical promotion rates in each grade designed to ensure those Airmen receiving a top tier promotion recommendation have a distinct advantage 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.

"The revised enlisted evaluation system provides ratees with meaningful feedback on rater expectations, a reliable, long-term cumulative record of performance and a clear indication of their promotion potential," said Lt. Gen. Sam Cox, the deputy chief of staff for manpower, personnel and services. "With nearly 90 percent of Airmen receiving 'truly among the best' assessments, a better means of identifying the top performers was absolutely necessary."

New regular Air Force promotion eligibility cutoff dates for promotions to master sergeant and technical sergeant took effect this past fall to correlate with the new SCODs and in support of the master sergeant promotion process and forced distribution requirements scheduled for implementation beginning in November 2015.

Airmen who are not eligible for promotion on their EPR static closeout date will receive an assessment of performance without a promotion recommendation.

"This is one the key steps we need to take to truly ensure performance counts and that the promotion system is about performance first," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody. "There has to be a level of discernment when it comes to promotions; this step gives us the tools to do just that."

For senior NCOs, stratification restrictions will limit the number of stratifications a senior rater may give to their master sergeant and senior master sergeant promotion eligible populations. Endorsement by senior raters will be restricted beginning with senior master sergeant EPRs closing out in July 2015. Senior raters will be restricted to endorsing only the top 10 percent of their master sergeant promotion-eligibles for promotions to senior master sergeant, and the top 20 percent of their senior master sergeant promotion-eligibles for promotions to chief master sergeant.

The forced distribution process was built with similarities to the senior airman below-the-zone promotion process. There will be large units, with enough Airmen to earn outright promotion allocations, and small units which will roll-up nominated promotion eligibles to an Enlisted Forced Distribution Panel led by the senior rater.

Once the EFDP selects the eligibles who will receive the top promotion recommendations, the remaining eligibles will receive outright promotes. Airmen receiving "promote" recommendations from the EFDP or directly from their unit continue to have significant opportunities for promotion as overall promotion percentages exceed the allocations controlled under forced distribution.

Although changes to the EES are a total force initiative, the Air Reserve component will not enforce forced distribution across their junior enlisted promotion eligible grades; however, both the Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard will utilize senior rater endorsement restrictions across the senior NCO grades.

Three teams of personnel experts will be visiting Air Force bases worldwide to conduct town halls including leadership briefings and question and answer sessions on the enlisted evaluation and promotion system changes. The town halls began at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, June 11, with all team visits scheduled to be complete by late July.

Airmen with questions are encouraged to attend briefings at their installation or the installation nearest them. For installation briefing times and locations, contact the local military personnel section or public affairs office or visit the Air Force Personnel Center website or myPers.