With the Air Force Tech Sgt (E-6) EPR ratings out, how will the results affect your Squadron over the next year?

2016-02-13T12:17:52-05:00

Response by MSgt Alex Taylor made Feb 14 at 2016 3:43 AM

2016-02-14T03:43:51-05:00

As a flight chief that had to go before the commander and speak to my people, I don't think things will change. I took a hard look at what people were doing and based my recommendations off of that. I didn't say Sgt X deserved a 'Promote' vs Sgt Y deserving a 'Must Promote'. I looked at them to see if they were fulfilling the duties of the next rank already, if they were ready for the increased responsibility, and their maturity. It's my commander's duty to make the final determination, but I believe he's got the best information and will do justice to the process.

Presently, I'm taking the message of what I based my recommendations off of back to my Airmen. They deserve to know what I'm looking for. Yes, I did look a little at volunteering, but not as much as the rumor mill around the Air Force makes one think it will be looked at. Most of my people I recommended, in my opinion, are doing the job of the next rank already, they are only missing the stripe. That is how I did it, and hope others are doing the same. And that's also the message I'm sending out. If you want the stripe, act like you've got it, and it'll follow with today's system.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2016 10:35 AM

2016-02-14T10:35:53-05:00

The dog and pony show will go into overdrive. People that genuinely care about their people and the mission and don't care as much about face time with the Sq/Gp/Wg CC will now have to play the game to get ahead.

Response by Col Carlos Messer made Feb 16 at 2016 9:14 AM

2016-02-16T09:14:57-05:00

I think the new changes will be good in the long run. There will be growing pains for the first couple of boards simply because it is a new process. I just sat on and EFDP board and the scoring of records was extremely consistent and fair. Ultimately, this should be a wake-up call for our new NCOs and a reminder that, professionally, they need to always be on top of their game if they expect to receive a higher rating. When I discussed this process with the TSgts in our organization, I made one thing very clear. Educate your folks on how the system works. Explain that it is NOT OK for the same bullets to show up on EPR after EPR. Teach them to write, articulate, and construct and EPR that actually highlights the work that they and subordinates accomplish. A good Airman should demand initial and mid-term feedback regardless of rank. Speak up if you don't get it. The system is predicated on this communication. This is nothing new. It was the same when I was an A1C and its the same now. BL, stratification and promoting our most qualified folks is the goal. Do what the system demands (5, 7, 9-level upgrades on time; PME ASAP; CCAF, lead wherever possible, etc..) and try to avoid complacency. While you may be content, there are peers who never rest. Finally, all of this is tempered with a healthy does of leadership. Be out in front of your people, don't be an micromanaging taskmaster, and take care of them and the mission (in that order). Finally, this EFDP process will highlight your shortcomings so fix them early.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 2:15 PM

2016-02-19T14:15:34-05:00

Nothing will change. Too few 5's and 4's means 3 is the new 5. There's a chance not a single person or only few people in your AFSC gets a 5 since ratings are given out a the unit level. The biggest difference will be the TOS and TOG point reduction. We could be looking at a complete change in enlisted culture as first time testers are now on equal footing with tenured NCO's. I'm interested to see how this plays out. Under this system with my scores I would have been an E-6 at 23.