Staff sergeant EPR closeout date approaches

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sandra Marrero
  • 23d Wing Public Affairs
Moody AFB, Ga. --  Editor's note: Information for this article was pulled from an AFNS article. The original story can be found here: http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/502827/ssgt-epr-static-closeout-dates-implemented.aspx)

Air Force senior leaders announced significant changes to the enlisted evaluation and promotion system, including a new static closeout date of Jan. 31 for all staff sergeants. 

The changes to the promotion system make job performance the biggest factor when considering Airmen for promotion. 

"The move is going to allow ... commanders to do that rack and stack to identify who truly is the best staff sergeant within that organization and the second best, third best so on so forth," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. David Kelch, 23d Wing command chief. "It's going to give everybody an equal look at the exact same time and everyone is on the same sheet of music. This is a big benefit for our Airmen."

Static closeout dates are meant to precede promotion board dates and let board members select the top Airmen to progress in rank. The recent changes also eliminate the request for an EPR when there is a change of rater. 

"This is going to help us recognize and identify actual performance and tie that to promotions," said Kelch. "Its going to ensure that the most accurate and current data is captured as you enter into your promotion testing cycle ... and that what you've done recently counts. This is a good thing."

Kelch added that after 20 years, the change is overdue. However, the change may create a challenge for some Airmen who may have a shorter time between EPRs, but to Kelch this is an opportunity for them to excel.

"You know when the closeout date is. It's not a surprise," said Kelch. "If you're going to get one of those short reports that's 95 days in length, you know that today, so get busy."

Additionally, the static closeout dates for technical sergeants and senior airmen will be Nov. 30 and March 31, respectively.

For more information about enlisted evaluations and promotions, and other personnel issues, visit the my Pers website at https://mypers.af.mil. Select "search all components" from the drop down menu and enter "28061" in the search window for SCOD and CRO report information; "27948" for enlisted evaluations or "27949" for enlisted promotion change information.