Remember core values when rating performance

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I hope by now everyone has seen our new Enlisted Performance Reports and feedback forms.

The Air Force, in my opinion did an excellent job in streamlining them. Each section now requires fewer narrative lines and includes a block which depicts our fitness exam performance.

Our EPRs are now based on performance rather than the potential for promotion. Sections under each performance assessment area have been relabeled and now include four new choices: "Does Not Meet," "Meets," "Above Average," and "Clearly Exceeds" the standards. I truly believe the new forms are great, however, they have generated a great deal of consternation.

Apparently, some of us believe the new form was devised to reduce inflation, not true.

We can all agree that our current EPR system is inflated, most Airmen receive an overall "5" on their performance reports. The new form was not designed to reduce inflation and we should not expect it to resolve a self-inflicted problem.

The responsibility of reducing inflation falls squarely on our shoulders, as raters. In fact, one of the most important roles we as supervisors have is to provide candid, honest and timely feedback to our Airmen, clearly identifying the standards and expectations.

Subsequently, we are rating our Airmen based on their performance, giving them the rating they "earned and deserve."

I've heard some raters say, "I don't want to hurt my Airman, so I gave them a weak five instead of a four." Or, "I know my Airman deserves a "4" but my Airman is better than that Airman which received a 5."

Stop! We need to realize when we take this course of action we are not only hurting our Airmen, (those who truly earned and deserve the "5"), but we are also hurting the system. Fundamentally, inflation is a systematic problem which stems from integrity or lack thereof. It's that simple.

We must stop concerning ourselves with what the next rater is doing and maintain our integrity. I once wrote, "I truly believe that our commitment to our AF Core Values means that they are more than just words posted on a wall or words we recite by memory. They help us with our toughest decisions and guide us as Airmen.

Remember, only you can convey the true essence of Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do."

It's imperative that as supervisors and raters we hold true to our core values when rating an Airmens' performance. For this is the only way we can institutionally bring our ratings back into balance. Provide your Airmen candid, honest and timely feedback, clearly identify the standards and expectations, and then rate them based on their performance. Once your ratees understand the standards and expectations, the rest is up to them.

Team Travis have a great weekend, be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus!