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AFPC road show introduces new enlisted evaluation system

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alexander W. Riedel
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
A team with the Air Force Personnel Center visited here July 13 to introduce Airmen to the ongoing implementation of the new enlisted evaluation and Weighted Airmen Promotion System.

During an all-call at the base fitness center, Chief Master Sgt. Brandy Petzel, Headquarters Air Force chief of enlisted force policy, outlined the coming changes and addressed Airmen's concerns during an extended question-and-answer session.

"The primary reason for changing (the process) is to ensure that performance is the No. 1 factor in how Airmen are evaluated and considered for promotion," Petzel said. "One of the primary factors driving this change is to provide commanders with a more effective mechanism to better delineate their best performers from the majority."

Summarizing already completed changes, such as the implementation of static closeout dates for evaluations and the Airmen Comprehensive Assessment, the subject matter experts also gave a glimpse at the new enlisted performance report forms, and outlined proposed forced distribution and senior rater stratification restriction procedures.

While some audience members expressed concerns about the updates, Petzel said the change will offer a chance to award promotions more equitably.

"In the past, Airmen voiced their frustration with every Airman receiving a (top score) on their enlisted evaluations," said Master Sgt. Matt Castillo, 36th Civil Engineer Squadron power systems section chief. "I was happy to hear today that Air Force leadership has finally made some necessary changes to the system.

"Having the personal introduction to the changes and having the opportunity to ask questions allowed for some of the gray areas that might exist in computerized training to be eliminated," Castillo continued. "Things can be explained a lot clearer in this setting. I think we'll have to make some difficult decisions in evaluating our Airmen, but when the NCO and senior NCO corps come together, the process of deciding who our top performers are will be a lot easier (under the new system)."

As the chief, enlisted force policy, directorate of Force Management Policy, deputy chief of staff, manpower, personnel and services, Petzel interprets and develops enlisted personnel policy for the Air Force and more than 405,000 total-force enlisted members.

For more information about EES/WAPS changes, visit www.af.mil's Enlisted Evaluation System page or go to the myPers website, select "enlisted" under the active duty, Guard or Reserve drop down menus, and then select "evaluations" in the left column.