Promotion and PRF Information

[theat6bisasham]

Is any other command out there doing this wacky new PRF process where you have to go in sequential order??...I don't remember this for couple years ago, but now it's the norm?

The individual lines in the PRF have to be grouped together logically by year group:

#1/400 copilots[2005]; Lead IP for RF [2010];lauded by [2012] - this would be kicked back

Also, reading top to bottom, it has to go in order now they say? It looks retarded - I was always taught to put the best info at the top and bottom line, but now they have that line filled up with UPT awards and crap as a LT.....?

[TarHeelPilot]

Work on your PRF? Why would your commander allow you to do that?

I was in the middle of a 210 day deployment to Afghanistan when I was given 3 days notice from my home-unit SQ/CC to write my own PRF for O-4. The next two days I flew combat missions. The third and final day I was able to devote completely to the PRF.

[Karl Hungus]

Sq and group CCs that allow it are lazy, not taking care of their troops and should get a boot up their ass. And I get it. It happens because there are shitty commanders who only planned Christmas parties, got useless degrees and avoided deployments. Doesn't mean we should tolerate it.

How many CCs get fired for being lazy on OPRs/PRFs? Serious question. Seems we tolerate it almost to the point of encouraging it.

[USAF Pilot]

I am of the opinion that, at the top, strats don't matter. The 1/40 CGO and the 1/200 CGO will both get schools slots and be on their happy way. The challenge comes in two areas: the 80th percentile and roughly the 10th percentile. How we compare dudes for that very last school slot and how we determine the lowest guy on the promote list are extremely grey in our system. How the 8/40 CGO compares to the 40/200 guy is where a PRF-writer should be making maximum effort... I don't think that's happening.

Liquid, GC, or some other lurker GO: WG/CCs already have a DNP option for their lowest folks. I think they should also have a "Promote w/ DE in residence" container as well. If that were available for the top 10%, then their PRFs could go up blank... The top 10% stamp says all that needs to be said (a MLR scrub could confrim that a WG/CC isn't trying to sneak a guy through). Additionally, there should be an easy option for the middle of the road guys. Folks who are in the 25th - 75th percentiles (perhaps determined at MLR) should be promoted with little fanfare and maybe a one-liner or blank PRF. Commanders should be enabled to focus their efforts where it really matters. Under this scheme, PRFs should only be written for the 90th-75th percentile (those with clear future potential, but not obvious shiny pennies), and the bottom 25% (those with an unclear future in the AF). It bothers me greatly that we spend so much time writing PRFs on folks clearly far from the seams of the system.

Hmmm...By allowing a Wg/CC (Senior Rater) to check a block saying this kid's my top 10% and then sending the PRF up blank, I think, would result in pushing the "who gets to go to school" down to the Wg/CC level. Maybe the top 10% folks from Hickam are more like the 20-30% range from Travis? Isn't the purpose of DPs to create a different pile of folks that are more apt to end up selects? I haven't tried to work the math on the # of DPs for say LAF Capt to Maj board vs # of school selects but I wonder if more DPs are giving out than school slots?

[Champ Kind]

Liquid,

Serious question. What is one to do when their supervisor (or even CC) tells them something to the effect of "have me a draft of your PRF by such and such date" or, even better, you are asked how your PRF is "coming along"?

As the eligible, I can't imagine you are putting yourself in a good place by telling any of the above people "naa, you write it..."

I get the impression that this isn't the way you roll, and you find it infathomable that your peers would engage in this practice. But they do. This isn't hyperbole. I have seen it.

Thoughts?

[USAF Pilot]

Your commander should draft your PRF. The best way to help is to highlight key accomplishments like combat, upgrades, participation in major world events, breadth, depth, distinction, etc. At the wing level, the record is reviewed to make sure sq and grp CC's put it the right highlights and modify the PRF style to senior rater preferences. Some board members read the whole PRF, some skim the top and bottom lines and the left side. The least interesting/useful info should be at the end of the middle to bottom bullets since they get read less frequently. Strong top and bottom bullets are keys. Scanning the records themselves is better since too many senior raters speed/lie on the PRF. That is dangerous as senior rater credibility is very important to board members. For instance, if you were the copilot of the month and the OPR say #1/30 as the copilot of the month and the PRF says "#1/30...great guy..." you will get hammered on your score due to senior rater speeding. Stratified DPs and Ps in the push line carry a lot of weight. Be very careful about writing your own ticket. It is easy to see in a record, since the style is the same on different reports with different raters. If the same senior rater has drastically different styles on his PRFs, it shows he didn't write the PRFs and does really care about his guys. Most senior raters get this and protect their credibility.

Yep. The tough part is getting your top people into the school selects. Strats matter there.

Liquid, GC, or some other lurker GO: WG/CCs already have a DNP option for their lowest folks. I think they should also have a "Promote w/ DE in residence" container as well. If that were available for the top 10%, then their PRFs could go up blank... The top 10% stamp says all that needs to be said (a MLR scrub could confrim that a WG/CC isn't trying to sneak a guy through). Additionally, there should be an easy option for the middle of the road guys. Folks who are in the 25th - 75th percentiles (perhaps determined at MLR) should be promoted with little fanfare and maybe a one-liner or blank PRF. Commanders should be enabled to focus their efforts where it really matters. Under this scheme, PRFs should only be written for the 90th-75th percentile (those with clear future potential, but not obvious shiny pennies), and the bottom 25% (those with an unclear future in the AF). It bothers me greatly that we spend so much time writing PRFs on folks clearly far from the seams of the system.

I've heard varying themes on what 'parts' of a PRF are important and they are similar to what Liquid has said. I've also heard the push line (bottom line on a PRF) is probably the most important just like an OPR. I also think he is correct on strat'd DPs. I'll never know for sure but for my PRF I got a DP w/o a strat (i.e. My #3/20 I/APZ O-3s--Definitely Promote!) and maybe that was where I missed school.

I did an unscientific poll at my Wing and discovered we spend about 20 man hours per PRF before it leaves the Wing. I find it completely soul crushing to hear that board members don't even bother to read the whole thing (also heard from others that they don't actually read the whole thing). If the PRF document isn't trusted or read completely, why do we (as an AF) even write one? What if the SR just strat'd each person meeting the board and we let AFPC pull the ROP for the member for the promotion board to review? No middle man (PRF), still have SR input via strat which could be added to the MEL in place of DP or P, board gets to see the source documents for the member (OPRs, TRs, Decs, etc).

[Fifty-six & Two]

I haven't tried to work the math on the # of DPs for say LAF Capt to Maj board vs # of school selects but I wonder if more DPs are giving out than school slots?

For the O-4 board, the DP allocation was around 75% if I remember correctly. "DE select" out of the promotion board goes to approximately 20% of the folks.

[backseatdriver]

That is dangerous as senior rater credibility is very important to board members. For instance, if you were the copilot of the month and the OPR say #1/30 as the copilot of the month and the PRF says "#1/30...great guy..." you will get hammered on your score due to senior rater speeding.

This is bullshit. Why is the member punished for their SR's speeding? Why doesn't the board member identify that the SR is one that is speeding, and look in the guys record themselves to score the record honestly? If we're not supposed to write the PRF ourselves, then why does a board punish us based on the SR not writing correctly? If you're sitting a board you should be ensuring the promotion of the best qualified officers for the AF - not immediately writing someone off because their boss is an idiot.

[pawnman]

Work on your PRF? Why would your commander allow you to do that?

Are you serious right now? I've never had an OPR or award where I didn't write the first draft...do you really think my commander is going to sift through a dozen OPRs, 1206s, and training reports for each of the dozen folks going to the board every year?

[Liquid]

This is bullshit. Why is the member punished for their SR's speeding? Why doesn't the board member identify that the SR is one that is speeding, and look in the guys record themselves to score the record honestly? If we're not supposed to write the PRF ourselves, then why does a board punish us based on the SR not writing correctly? If you're sitting a board you should be ensuring the promotion of the best qualified officers for the AF - not immediately writing someone off because their boss is an idiot.

When the senior rater exaggerates the record on the PRF (or flat out lies), those scoring the record may take that into account. Multiple #1s for example. If the credibility of the senior rater is questioned, how would you like them to account for it? Some may hammer the record score, some may not notice, some may disregard andnhonestlynscore. Look, I can't possibly speak for every board member or tell you what is going to happen. All I can tell you is what I learned during my experience and give advice. My advice is don't write your own ticket and don't allow misleading bullets on your PRF. I give advice to officers, commanders and board members. Sometimes it is useful, sometimes not. I don't really care if you agree with it or not. Gather as much info and advice as you can and make your own decisions about what to do and how to mentor.

[backseatdriver]

When the senior rater exaggerates the record on the PRF (or flat out lies), those scoring the record may take that into account. Multiple #1s for example. If the credibility of the senior rater is questioned, how would you like them to account for it? Some may hammer the record score, some may not notice, some may disregard andnhonestlynscore. Look, I can't possibly speak for every board member or tell you what is going to happen. All I can tell you is what I learned during my experience and give advice. My advice is don't write your own ticket and don't allow misleading bullets on your PRF. I give advice to officers, commanders and board members. Sometimes it is useful, sometimes not. I don't really care if you agree with it or not. Gather as much info and advice as you can and make your own decisions about what to do and how to mentor.

Copy all, and understand. My comment wasn't a spear at you, just at the idea that someone's record would be scored lower (and therefore possibly not get promoted) because the SR was speeding on their PRF. While I understand the importance of SR credibility to the board, my point is a board member should not penalize that individual by scoring lower based on PRF speeding IF the record otherwise supports a higher score. If there's an issue with the SR's credibility, that shouldn't automatically reflect negatively on the member.

As far as keeping misleading bullets off your PRF - that could be easier said than done. The conversation might go something like (although we all hope it wouldn't), "Sir/Ma'am, I think we should change this bullet because it (gives the wrong impression/isn't accurate/speeding)." "I disagree, we're leaving it in there." And while SR credibility is the issue, this is probably a discussion that happens at the Sq/CC level versus the SR level. And this probably happens because the Sq/CC has never been properly mentored on how to write a good PRF before they were put in charge.

Now, is that shitty leadership? Yes. Does it happen? Yes. At least the attempt was made by the member to correct it, but if board members are scoring things this way, then even if they tried to correct it, they're screwed because the board member is going to write them off because the SR is speeding.

Don't get me wrong, I truly believe that complete disregard for the OPR/PRF process isn't happening all over the place (at least I hope not) but it definitely happens. And the maddening thing about it is that someone's career/life is dependent upon whether their boss at the time has their shit together when it comes to writing reports.

Totally separate but related - isn't this one of the exact things the MLR is meant to catch?

Edited August 24, 2013 by backseatdriver

[Liquid]

Are you serious right now? I've never had an OPR or award where I didn't write the first draft...do you really think my commander is going to sift through a dozen OPRs, 1206s, and training reports for each of the dozen folks going to the board every year?

Squadron commanders should review the record and write the draft PRF with input from the member, supervisors and staff. Group commanders should edit and recommend stratifications and style. Senior raters, usually wing commanders, and their staffs should verify content, adjust style and content, stratify. and give DPs. Nowhere in this process should the member be writing and editing the bullets. I'm not saying it doesn't happen. I am saying squadron commanders that aren't deeply involved in the process are f*ing lazy and not doing their jobs.

Totally separate but related - isn't this one of the exact things the MLR is meant to catch?

Yep. The MLRs I've done did just that and provided direct feedback to the senior raters.

[Dupe]

Hmmm...By allowing a Wg/CC (Senior Rater) to check a block saying this kid's my top 10% and then sending the PRF up blank, I think, would result in pushing the "who gets to go to school" down to the Wg/CC level. Maybe the top 10% folks from Hickam are more like the 20-30% range from Travis? Isn't the purpose of DPs to create a different pile of folks that are more apt to end up selects? I haven't tried to work the math on the # of DPs for say LAF Capt to Maj board vs # of school selects but I wonder if more DPs are giving out than school slots?

So maybe the top 10% determination should be made at MLR to avoid the wing differences issue. Or maybe it should be top 5%... I'm just spit-balling here. The point is that we spend a retarded amount of time differentiating where differentiation doesn't need to be made (eg.. the very top and the fat middle). This PRF business is madness, and I'm deeply saddened that our senior leaders haven't managed to come up with anything better. Some say "our system works!" Well, the typewriter in my grandma's basement still works, too.

[Liquid]

Liquid,

Serious question. What is one to do when their supervisor (or even CC) tells them something to the effect of "have me a draft of your PRF by such and such date" or, even better, you are asked how your PRF is "coming along"?

As the eligible, I can't imagine you are putting yourself in a good place by telling any of the above people "naa, you write it..."

I get the impression that this isn't the way you roll, and you find it infathomable that your peers would engage in this practice. But they do. This isn't hyperbole. I have seen it.

Thoughts?

If you give him a draft PRF (or OPR) that has content but not style or strats. Highlight the top 20 or so things in your record that should be highlighted on the PRF. Source everything (2009 OPR, block IV line 2). Turn in more data than they need so they can choose which ones to use. Never write your own push line (last line). In July my bosses' exec asked me for a draft push line and I told him absolutely not.

I like seeing a draft filled out with nothing in the main blocks, but all the of the admin queep done, then a paragraph for each potential bullet in a word document or email. Plain language what you did and what the impact was. When someone provides only the no-vowel, chopped sentences with bullshit adjectives and fake impact (100% mission success), they are focusing too much on style. Most drafts I edit I eliminate the bullshit impact and add vowels back in. I also change the AFSC specific jargon into plain language. Nobody reads the acronym list on the back and it does no good to say something nobody understands. I've been given plenty of inputs in "bullet format" but I always changed them significantly.

I know people write their own OPRs and PRFs. I remind them to not be a self serving careerists, but to assist in the process by providing the details that only you know best. You can also simply say to your boss, "be careful sir, the AFI specifically prohibits people from writing their own performance reports". You can also make sure that you and your peers don't do it and teach people to not do it.

[Azimuth]

In July my bosses' exec asked me for a draft push line and I told him absolutely not.

I like seeing a draft filled out with nothing in the main blocks, but all the of the admin queep done, then a paragraph for each potential bullet in a word document or email. Plain language what you did and what the impact was. When someone provides only the no-vowel, chopped sentences with bullshit adjectives and fake impact (100% mission success), they are focusing too much on style. Most drafts I edit I eliminate the bullshit impact and add vowels back in. I also change the AFSC specific jargon into plain language. Nobody reads the acronym list on the back and it does no good to say something nobody understands. I've been given plenty of inputs in "bullet format" but I always changed them significantly.

I know people write their own OPRs and PRFs. I remind them to not be a self serving careerists, but to assist in the process by providing the details that only you know best. You can also simply say to your boss, "be careful sir, the AFI specifically prohibits people from writing their own performance reports". You can also make sure that you and your peers don't do it and teach people to not do it.

Great advice, I do the same with subordinates. Give me the admin fill out from the shell (if its wrong, fix it), good content with action, impact maybe, and possibly result, I'll be the wordsmith, and leave the push lines blank.

Edited August 25, 2013 by Azimuth

[backseatdriver]

Yep. The MLRs I've done did just that and provided direct feedback to the senior raters.

Did those that received spears from their peers change their ways or was it just feedback? Honest question, not smartassedness.

[Liquid]

The MLR does a quality review of all PRFs to find mistakes (wrong DE push, prohibited statements, capitalization) and bad style (speeding/exaggeration, duplicative strats, etc) as well as determine carryover and aggregate DPs. When the GOs said fix the PRF, it got fixed and re-signed. We then did a VTC with all senior raters to talk about techniques, trends and quality. Technique and style are opinion and they vary quite a bit, so that feedback is mostly for discussion and consideration. Mistakes and speeding feedback was more directive and the reports were reaccomplished. One data point from one MAJCOM's process. No idea how everyone else does it and I'm sure it changes year to year.

On OPRs, the most important lines are the top and bottom bullets in each block. Put your most important info on those lines. Many board members read the OPRs, but focus mostly on those lines. It is incredible how many key accomplishment like AF level Sijan, SOS DG or DFC get buried in the middle blocks, towards the end of the bullet. I'd rather read three lines about why you were awarded the AF Tunner Award or Combat Action Medal than what your additional duty was. Put the good stuff that shows leadership, breadth, depth, distinction, deployments first. Nobody cares how many staff packages you processed, trouble tickets you worked, lines you scheduled, pubs you posted, FMC rate you generated or vouchers you returned. The data and metrics about your daily job don't paint the picture of why you should be promoted, only what your particular career field does. Make sure your inputs to your rater include the good info and make sure your subordinates provide you with it.

[17D_guy]

...On OPRs, the most important lines are the top and bottom bullets in each block. Put your most important info on those lines. Many board members read the OPRs, but focus mostly on those lines...

I want to bitch about why we have all these "extra bullets" if they're not even really read. But I can't think of a better way to do a eval system without some sort of narrative, even if only a portion of it is read for promotion processes.

However, much like the push to deflate EPR's is there a push at senior levels about the magic wording and/or different styles that are emerging out of each base? Hell, between 2 Wing CC's we had a change to the C-model, and acronyms/approved words shift significantly.

Additionally is leadership, in your MAJCOM if that's your purview, aware to get this strat-by-excel process that appears to be happening all over that place (by that I mean my 2-assignments).

Finally.. how aware are they/you of the douche-CC's who pass of their rating privileges on their subordinates? Got any advice on how to deal with it at a O2/O3 level?

Thanks.

[ThreeHoler]

I didn't write our ORI rating in one of my OPRs. I included the fact that I solely drove the success of operations during the ORI? Can I include the ORI rating of "Excellent" that the squadron received although it's not listed on a previous OPR?

Did it make it onto your PCS medal?

[theat6bisasham]

If it's not written anywhere else in black and white, then it needs to be written into a MFR if I remember correctly. Or am I thinking about PCS medals..?

[Danny Noonin]

I didn't write our ORI rating in one of my OPRs. I included the fact that I solely drove the success of operations during the ORI? Can I include the ORI rating of "Excellent" that the squadron received although it's not listed on a previous OPR?

No. PRFs summarize your record. If its not in your record (OPRs, training reports, medals) you are SOL. You cannot introduce new facts into evidence on the PRF regardless of how true. Only caveat is for things that happened since your most recent OPR closed out.

[Techsan]

No. PRFs summarize your record. If its not in your record (OPRs, training reports, medals) you are SOL. You cannot introduce new facts into evidence on the PRF regardless of how true. Only caveat is for things that happened since your most recent OPR closed out.

I'm not so sure about that, as I swear I've seen MFRs in dudes' PRFs.

[Danny Noonin]

I'm asking because I keep in touch with a previous ADO from my old squadron who can vouch for the rating. Not to mention, the rating is published in an Air Force news article that talks about my previous squadron and how well we did during the ORI. I was hoping to ask my CC to include the rating in my PRF since I am strated in that line of my OPR in question. The ORI was the reason for the strat.

Dude stop. You squadrons ORI rating is not going to make any difference in the world to your promotion. You are getting spun up over nothing important. You cant just have people "vouch" for it. It isn't in your record. You can't use it.

I'm not so sure about that, as I swear I've seen MFRs in dudes' PRFs.

The only facts that can go on a PRF that weren't already in your record are things that have occurred since your last OPR closed out. You dont have to believe me. you can read the reg for yourself. Its in there. Typically you would write a bullet using the facts in question onto a draft OPR form and submit with the PRF coord, but maybe you've seen someone do it differently.

[Danny Noonin]

Interesting. I'm not even remotely spun up and wasn't ripping on you. You might want to note that your "yes or no" question had already been directly answered with a "no" in the very post that you quoted plus an explanation of why---

No. PRFs summarize your record. If its not in your record (OPRs, training reports, medals) you are SOL. You cannot introduce new facts into evidence on the PRF regardless of how true. Only caveat is for things that happened since your most recent OPR closed out.

PRFs do not have to be verbatim from your OPRs, but can't introduce new facts (i.e. ORI grade) regardless of how true or what newspaper it's confirmed by. You can combine things (e.g. total combat sorties by adding up numbers from multiple OPRs.). You can change acronyms to plain English as you suggested, etc. Those don't introduce new facts.

Edited August 27, 2013 by Danny Noonin

[Champ Kind]

He speaks the truth. Reference the PRF chapter (8?) of AFI 36-2406.

PRF fodder comes from your record of performance (ROP). If it isn't written down, it probably won't make it in. The only instances I've heard of an MFR being used are to highlight major awards that for whatever reason did not make it onto a report/dec. There is a blurb that mentions the use of "other reliable information", but I don't think it applies in your case.

FML for knowing that.

Edit to add excerpt, because I had the time:

8.1.4.1. The Senior Rater:

8.1.4.1.1. Reviews the ratee's Officer’s Command Selection Records Group (OCSRGp), decoration citations, Duty Qualification History Brief (DQHB) and Unfavorable Information File (UIF) (if applicable) before preparing the PRF. May consider other reliable information about duty performance and conduct except as paragraph 1.12. or other regulatory guidance prohibits. Examples of other reliable information may include but are not limited to LOE, bullets from a draft OPR and/or decoration, etc. To reference the “other reliable information” in their record, the officer meeting the board may submit a letter to the CSB. Do not use any other Single Uniform Request Formats (SURFs) other than those indicated above when preparing the PRF (i.e., AMS SURFs). Note: The intent of the "other reliable information" passage is to allow SRs to comment on performance accomplishments since the closeout of the last evaluation. This allows a SR who has personal knowledge of an accomplishment to comment about it in the PRF although not part of the official record yet.

Edited August 27, 2013 by Champ Kind