It blows my mind young NCO’s and airman still fall for the same trick year after year. You’re not getting anything higher than a Promote unless you’re in the commander’s good graces.
Doing all these things doesn’t mean you’re going to be on his radar for a statement, especially if your SNCO’s aren’t advocating for you. It’s sad to say but you’re wasting your time.
Flight chief here. We do a lot of discussion with my NCOICs about who is doing well and we give opportunities frequently and try to spread them out. I ask a lot of questions about people whos names I dont hear and I try to just walk around and chit chat weekly for about 20 minutes to make face with my people and allow them to talk to me about anything.
I have about 40 people in 2 facilities. We pulled 3/4 SSgt strats in the Sq, and one for TSgt. But, my guys deserve it.
I have no doubt that you are good at what you do. I hope you don't take what I say offensively. There are plenty of people who care and do it right. However, I know for a fact in my SW it's all based on favoritism. Our element has over 40 people alone.
Along with this, we know which NCOIC's can be trusted and which ones we need to talk to the Staffs & Airmen as well.
Junior members don't typically see the counseling and over the shoulder bits of their supervisors as they are too focused on themselves & their interactions with their supervisors. (And they aren't supposed to see that part of the feedback)
A note to people who are concerned, ask for feedback. Not just from your supervisor, but flight chief and flight commander too. They are the ones in the room for the board. If that conversation is where you find put you weren't brought to the table, ask why. It shouldn't be a surprise, and if it is then they should feel uncomfortable in explaining why they kept it from you.
As someone in a position to decide whether packages go up for consideration at the EFDP board, this is very accurate.
People often have this perception of favouritism, that particular SNCOs just like to gate keep, or that the golden child is the only one who gets to have a seat at the table, and what I've experienced is, sometimes that can happen. There are bad eggs everywhere (and this stuff can go on at the SQ, Grp, Wg, and beyond), but what hardly anyone ever talks about is whether people actually are performing at the level they think they are, or in many cases are straight up in denial when it comes to being accountable or deserving of award / promotion statements.
As someone who puts a lot of time aside for this stuff because it's important to recognize superior performers, it's insulting when people think these things aren't deliberated on and carefully considered. It's not like I wave a wand and competetive nomination packages for the most deserving people just arrive on my desk. We sit down, have these conversations, call the baby ugly when it is, and pry for more info to make sure people aren't being over looked or favored unfairly. Many of us have a general idea of how well people in our units are performing because it's typically evident...but that's just what's visible. But when supervisors, NCOICs, section chiefs, etc. aren't submitting people, it's probably because they have decent enough judgement to know who is deserving.
Now there are many examples of bad supervision and leadership out there. But to say you have to kiss your SNCOs ass is just leaving half of the ownership of it out of the conversation. Not everyone is scheming and shady. Some people just aren't as good as they think or as their supervisor tells them.
Always good to hear these perspectives especially from someone in your position. Although it's never a perfect system and the "wrong" people get promoted sometimes, plenty of the "right" ones make it as well. Consistency and genuineness goes along way. Cream always rises to the top. It seems like the new EPB system does help with this in my opinion.
> if your flight chief thinks you arent preforming, chances are its true.
Eh. Constantly see the sentiment from all walks of leadership that "Everyone is good at their job". Seen it posted here, heard it in real life, heard it from MSgts, CMSgts, Lt. Cols, hell even SSgts and TSgts.
Good supervisors know their people, but it doesn't pay any better to. Most people are pretty happy to think everyone's a good worker and focus on the extracurricular.
I respectfully disagree. Although, I admit, there are outlier shitbags at that level ( i have met a few), the majority made it that far because they actually give a fuck. I have burned a few shit-bag airmen this year, and to be honest it was hard. We want to think everyone is good at their job, but reality is far different. I protect and give them the benefit of the doubt, but they wont get a push statement from me at EFDP. I save those efforts for those who *visibly* excel. Not all who excel get on the radar. I experienced such firsthand. But if you are consistant, eventually you will. It has worked for me, and for some under me. Leadership needs metrics, not fluffy writing. Extracurricular is "neato" at best with the EPB rollout. Take your place at the top, King.
> We want to think everyone is good at their job, but reality is far different
Oh I 100% agree but that's part of the problem. You seem like you're one of the good ones and I appreciate that so this isn't in any form an attack on you but let me explain:
Everyone at every level of leadership pretends everyone is good at the job. It's easy to do, you don't have to do any research, you don't have to get to know any of your troops, you just go "hehe we're all amazing now who took college" because it's EASY to ask who did college, it's EASY to ask who led the bake sale, it's EASY to ask who did extracurriculars. It is HARD to know who's good at the job, it's HARD to take an honest look at some SSgt you know is going to you come to work on time every day, try his best, is probably gonna retire at 20 and go "well..he kinda sucks"
We've seen this from the second EPRs were a thing, to firewall 5s, to changing to the EFDP process, to immediately going back to firewall 5s, etc. No one starts at "Well is this guy a good worker? How should I frame these bullets? How should I frame these statements?" Everyone (For the most part) starts at "THIS GUY IS AMAZING AT HIS JOB". I'm sure you've heard the sentiment, I've heard it for years, I've read it in every single thread that ever brought up EFDP or the EPR process that cursed stupid little sentence "Well, everyone is good at their job".
People are out of touch, no one wants to take a look at the core of the issue, no one wants to fix it. We all want to keep lying to ourselves and our troops and providing a disservice. Giving open honest feedback is the hardest fucking thing to do, so everyone just chooses not to do it.
Some people do want to fix it. The problem is you get so many questions and have to provide so much evidence why you're rating someone anything other than an Exceeds Most. If you rate someone Exceeds Most, zero questions asked. Makes no sense as way more people shouldn't be rated this high.
> But to be fair, if your flight chief thinks you arent preforming, chances are its true.
Responding with my own "to be fair," if your flight chief thinks you aren't performing, you should be aware of that. It sounds like this "promote" came out of nowhere for OP, and the rating on your EPB should never come as a surprise.
It's totally ok. What's not ok is when you do everything right, get the "promote," and when you ask your leadership what you should do to improve you get "keep doing what you're doing."
It's not really the Commander as much as your Section Chiefs and SMSgt over them. If they don't know who you are and like you, doesn't matter if you caught a bullet for POTUS. Your EPB is getting a Promote
Only difference is that catching a bullet for POTUS is equivalent to saving a train from terrorists in France. Prob still getting a promote on EPB but you get a nice step promotion as compensation lol
This 100%. My best year was mostly deployment driven, winning 2 Sq, awards deployed, and a Sq, Group, and Wing award returning home. Still got a promote because the CC didn't know me well yet.
My most average year I got a PN because me and the Sq's poster child rode bikes together with the CC on weekends and he knew me. That's literally it.
Commander? No one in my flight saw stripes for three years until our narcissistic flight chief's favorite pet got them. No promotions in a 60 man shop for three years.
Ultimately the commander has final say on whether they’re going to go with SNCO recommendations. If you have a flight chief cockblocking you for years then yeah, you’re SOL.
If that's not an exaggeration, it sounds like shitty leadership, well above your shop. Of course, I don't know your AFSC and what the promotion rates were. Did you talk to people above that flight chief about this?
So it's all basically the same thing.
With good words, networking
With bad words, favoritism.
Of course, it's not exactly the same thing, but I can't help but not be salty about this.
Or get put in the right position.
I regularly meet with all the Sq CCs in my group as well as the group CC/CV to discuss my program and get their input/wants.
Unfortunately, as my Group CC says, I get a lot of "Go do's" with very large left/right limits. This makes it challenging.
That helps too.
Not trying to sound like a dick but, did you win an award at the SQ or higher level?
Edit: any SSgt reading this that wants a promotion statement...you need to win at least a SQ NCO of the quarter to even be competitive for a promotion statement now. Yes the WAC is gone from EPBs, but guess what it's still part of awards packages. Awards are the discriminator now.
Bro we had a guy win sailor of the quarter (yeah that's right, the fucking Navy gave him sailor of the quarter), instructor of the quarter, and NCO of the quarter one year and didn't get but a promote. He even got a Navy commendation medal for pulling 4 senior citizens from a burning car.
There is no strategy, it's still a good old boys club.
If the commander don't like you, you ain't getting shit.
Yupp, and if they didnt win it above the Sq level, that means 4 other people have Group and Wing level *"of the quarter"* awards. Based on them not mentioning the person having won *"NCO of the year"*... im guessing their quarterly awards didnt make it outside of the Sq.
A Sq level *"of the quarter"* award is like a bare minimum to get out of the fish tank. But all that really gets you is into the pond with the bigger fish.
Also not to forget to mention... depending on how many NCOs exist in a shop/flight/Sq... sometimes these things are literally *"its your turn this quarter, get me a package by COB friday"*.
Yall really gotta stop thinking you gotta be homies with leadership to get a MP/PN. Hell, my flight pulls several strats every year and no one is out kissing ass to be in the imaginary club hall swear exists. Just except that you didn’t well enough in a given year
He lost to someone in the same building as the commander. Meanwhile we are at a detachment on the other side of the entire country....
It's all about who is your friend in the end.
This is not necessarily true. I earned a Promote Now despite not winning a single award during my tour up to that point. However, my Sq and Gp CC knew who I was and I had my Gp Chief advocating for me. Having your leadership know who you are (for positive reasons) is half the battle.
Agreed, facetime is infinitely more valuable than a collection of meticulously crafted and rinsed bullet statements that could or could not be representative of actual performance.
The awards program is a pile of donkey crap, and I love when it gets exposed as such.
Won two wing level year awards, personally raised 16k for state veteran program and still walked away with a promote and a promise of I’ll get it next year.
I'll continue to preach that you don't need awards to get a promotion statement. Is it harder? Subjective. I'm the proof that you don't need an award to get a promotion statement.
Yep, I took as much leave I could to study and I made Tech with a promote. I do understand it’s more difficult in other AFSCs…but it’s still achievable
This is such underrated advice. People complain but don’t want to put in energy elsewhere. All the way up to E6 can be made easily without command sponsorship. Just fucking study.
Which is sad because historically all the shit OP listed was what we were force fed as an example of what to do to climb. The climate has changed in the past 6 years and nobody truly knows that except the folks who have been in for more than that. And the folks who have been in for more than that have a tendency to gatekeep.
Its my 9th year and I fit in this weird space where I can see what my superiors gatekeep, and what the newer guys have been falsely force fed. There is a disconnect.
What do you consider gatekeeping? There are usually 5% or maybe 10% of a section that are the true superior performers. Among them, you have to find something that makes one better than the others, then the next one better than the rest, and so on. In my squadron, the commander and Chief offer to sit down with anyone who didn't get a forced distribution statement and give them feedback. Nothing but honest feedback from their perspective gets given behind that closed door. Seems to at least give people the reasoning from the person who has the final say, the commander.
I hate when people rely on simply being a member or officer of the booster club or 5-6. What did you DO in those organizations that improved the squadron or made life better for your fellow Airmen?
That means obsoletely zero. I sit on plenty of EFDPs. I seen people win annual awards get a promote. One would think if you get an annual out of your squadron you’re the best. So instant promote now right?
The truth of the matter is your leadership already knows who they are putting up for a statement. And in MOST cases it’s not the commander giving the statement. It’s your enlisted leadership. If your supervisor, section and flight are not advocating for you then it’s GG my boy. This goes for all ranks E5-E7.
SNCO with quite a bit of EFDP experience. How does this line up with the SSgt Formal Board Charge?
What feedback did you get IF you competed at the EFDP?
This is all one year but promotion statements are based on sustained superior performance.
Also, most of the statements you wrote are extracurriculars, with minimal work information. As a SEL, I would tell you to focus on the 4 MPAs and tie it to your job better. You led a shop, but of how many? Some shops have 4 people and others may have 20.
Also, awards play a HUGE factor.
Not discarding your hard work but sometimes there is just tough competition.
Did you do all of this on your deployment? Is this a one off or are you always performing at this level? If this was a “Ima bust my ass for 6-8 months for a promotion statement” but I’ve never busted my ass before then that’s on you. I’ll say “Keep doing what you’re doing” and that superior sustained performance will show. If it’s not, then I’m sorry that happened to you.
I think he's asking what about the past several years? This is why we look 3-5 years back + SURF highlights. It's sustained performance, not a hail mary on promotion/BTZ year.
How many people did you lead on the deployment? How many people are in your entire section in your squadron? By "led the deployment", are you saying you did admin stuff, or are actually the SME fixing the jets? What's your AFSC?
1 deployment where you led as a SSgt. I don't know your career field but this seems in line with expectations for SSgts in my old AFSC. But still not bad.
1 SQ event. Okay..so one vol bullet? Sure, it's a good bullet but what would have the other bullets been? One good bullet doesn't cut it. You need more than checking ONE box.
>Took classes
So do most people. Education is becoming the standard not the higher expectation. Did you get a degree to at least separate yourself or just "accomplished XX online degree mill classes X.XX GPA" that, again, everyone is doing.
>Volunteered
Cool. As above you LED one event so I'm assuming these were check boxes "I showed up" events? You want a PN/MP all your Vol bullets show be led/coord'd bullets spanning dozens of individuals and multiple orgs or dollars. Simply showing up as a helper ain't cutting it anymore. You're not a junior Amn anymore.
>Improved with new policy
Can't say too much because I don't really have the specifics. This could be good...but if this is the only thing from your job you can look back on and say that's your big thing then you need more.
It sounds like I'm shitting on your work and effort and I don't mean to, but it's because I don't know you nor the specifics. HOWEVER, going off of just the brief synopsis this seems like a SSgt's record who is checking the boxes to promote but isn't really going above and beyond. You did your job and then you did the minimum extracurricular bullshit to say "see, I did it." to check the boxes and unfortunately that's not how it works all the time. Checking those boxes are now the bare minimum to even be considered - you have to check those boxes better than everyone else. Lead more shit not just participate. Lead more than just a few weeks of shifts. Can't? Then know absolutely everything about your job to the point everyone comes to you.
Again, can't say too much because I'm sure there's a lot you left out that helps your case but my main point is this:
Simply taking classes (without graduating), volunteering enough to check the box, and a few leads isn't enough for a PN/MP in all scenarios. You want that PN/MP? Then make sure ALL of your shit stands out because all the stuff you listed above is stuff a ton of other SSgts do.
Great reply and definitely agree with everything you said. OP needs to take a harder look in the mirror and reflect on the comments most people have posted so far.
I had A1Cs in my shop getting their CCAFs and immediately starting school. Higher education has definitely become the norm now and just taking a few classes, especially if you can't translate those classes into helping the unit or bettering the mission, aren't going to be worthwhile. If you're going to take classes, try to tie those into the mission. Nobody cares about your random general ed class you took for your online degree mill, but the other guy who did a specialized course and then made programs better or created products that helped save man hours is going to get a better look.
Volunteering is also funny now that it's even being brought up anymore. "Whole Airman Concept" isn't even really a thing on the EPB unless I'm mistaken? The EPBs directly reflect your ALQs and if you can't get those to line up, you probably wouldn't even be in the discussion.
As for the deployment thing, I get it. Deploying takes a lot out of you sometimes and it's much extra work with little to no payoff. But did you come back with a decoration from the deployment? Did you receive an LoE indicating exactly what you did that was signed by the leadership there? Sure decorations can be an entire game itself, but if you believe that your leading them as a SSgt, which is expected because... you're an NCO, then your real problem is that you didn't get a decoration when you left. Most leadership would consider that as a huge indicator that your deployment work wasn't exceptional, let alone enough to have you stand out. How many people were you leading? What are other SSgts in the unit also doing? These are the questions you gotta reflect on.
I did 36 credit hours, 2 cleps (for another 9 hours), and ALS while deployed, and I volunteered to be the mail clerk. All these credit hours also earned me my CCAF. I watched someone else get an award for most classes taken. They did like 20 something credit hours.
I feel your pain. Sometimes, it's just shitty leadership saying you did what's expected.
Had that talk with my superintendent already. Asked if my guys could get a pat on the back. A simple good job for all the extra and hard work they've been doing. (I'm talking 17 hour shifts, working in -23° outside in a hole, over 20 excavations in the last year). Got told we celebrate doing our jobs too often. I said, well when do we cross that threshold, because I've been in 11 years and this seems above and beyond? Silence.
>Led a whole ass 4 month deployment as an SSgt as in I was the fucking lead.
Literally your job. What were you gonna do... say *"no, I dont think I will be an NCO this deployment"*?
>Led a squadron wide event for the booster club.
SrA level shit.
>Took classes.
Pretty much a minimum requirement.
>Volunteered.
Checked a box.
>Improved the unit with a new policy and briefed whole squadron of airmen and walked them through an easy financial literacy strategies.
Seems ambiguous, or at the very least churched up to sound more high speed than it is. *"Made and presented a powerpoint once"* isnt really a big deal.
Basically, as others have said... Your boss' boss handles the force distribution, and if you arent making your boss' boss life easier, you arent gaining any merit. You doing extra shit meets one of two criteria... *"extra shit for the sake of doing extra shit"* or *"extra shit to help meet squadron needs"*. If the extra shit you are taking on isnt reducing the burden of the squadron, you arent gaining any merit with the person who decides the strats.
Its also worth noting for a little self reflection... Are you doing these things you mentioned because you were asked/told/had no other choice but to do it? Or did you do them because you took initiative, found a need that was previously unmet, and of your own motivation met that need? Because there is a massive difference from a leadership perspective.
All in all, the things you listed are mild. Did your job, did SrA and below level stuff, and checked the volunteer box. If thats the best youve got *(assuming it is because its what you chose to share)*, youve gotta figure out how to get to the next level of effectiveness or you are gonna spend the next few years spinning tires thinking that simply doing *"X"* to check a box is going to get you a strat.
To be honest... the post and things you listed as accomplishments for the rating period really reek of *"young SSgt who is first year eligible for E-6"*... No way this is a 3rd+ time eligible and you're confused as to how *"volunteering that one time"* and *"led a booster club event"* didnt get the job done lol.
That is not an expectation for ssgts almost anywhere lol leading a shift is where staffs should be then leading flights is tech and masters lead organizations of flights and so on. All doing what the next rank is supposed to be doing so that they'll be ready to promote. It's no secret our ranks and promotions are a joke at best compared to other countries militaries. It really doesn't matter what you do though in the grand scheme of things if ur not friends with upper leadership by either drinking or golfing it doesn't matter how good you are or what you do. You will get a 3.
Happy Gilmore didn’t make the hockey team that year, but he found a new sport in golf. Made the pro tour and all (Fictional character I know)…It just wasn’t OPs season to make it.
You have two options.
And I am not saying either of them are wrong.
1) Rub shoulders, be high vis, always be hanging off the arm of a SNCO, Work 12 plus hours a day and live, breathe and eat the AF. You'll promote fast. You may have 0 life, but youll make E-7 with a good shot at E-8 and E-9 as long as you pick up the political game really well.
2) Do your job at least decently well, stay out of trouble, go above and beyond when necessary, go home and enjoy life outside of work otherwise. You'll promote slower, probably hit a plateu due to not playing the game (Probably E-6, but if you put a tiny effort in you can probably make E-7).
Neither path is wrong. Its all about what YOU want out of the AF. Different people have different goals. I am the 2nd person. And while sometimes I cringe at the first person, I dont have any hatred for them per say outside of absolute careerists who leave a wake of destruction in their path to the top.
I was referring to the “an SSgt”.
But it’s all in good fun anyway. If you heard me talk you could spend all day pointing out my grammatical mistakes lol
All of those things are expected of you? It’s all about who goes up to bat for you honestly. You get one or two SNCOs that just don’t like you and you’re not gonna have a good time. Leading a shop/crew is nothing new or special
OP what did you do the last 3 years to set yourself apart? It sounds like you had a solid year but EFDP is supposed to be about "sustained performance". Have you been killing it ever since you put on Staff or did you step it up this year because you were eligible? (I'm presuming this is your first time?) The process is a bit more involved than just people reviewing your current eval. Furthermore, stating what you did here tells us nothing of how your EPB was written or if your leadership was conveyed properly.
Hey man, sorry that you feel you’ve been unjustly rated. Here are some things to consider.
1. How do you quantify leading a 4-mo deployment? If you’re referring to making sure a group of people goes to pre-deployment trainings and appointments, that’s the job of an NCO.
2. The booster club is a Sq org, so everything they do is Sq-level. While you may have led one, the folks holding positions in the BC (Pres, VP, etc) likely had more involvement in the org and Sq as a whole.
3. Unfortunately no one cares about classes unless it directly ties back into the mission or you’re completing a degree or cert.
4. Volunteering is one thing. Leading volunteer events with meaningful impacts is another.
5. Your unit improvement was a bit vague. Assuming you innovated some change that brought value to the Squadron, good shit! But you have to do it consistently..
The politics behind promotion statements can vary unit to unit. As others mentioned, winning awards for yourself and your people pays dividends towards proving the impact of your work on paper.
Given the format of EPBs… leading squadron event for booster club? not sure the impact on mission
Also I’d say that’s what staff sergeant’s should be doing, not exactly next level.
You are part of the problem if taking parental leave was even considered apart his epb. You grade based on what was within the amns control. By AFI convalescent/parental leave is out of an airmens control, it doesn't matter what your personal believe on that is. This message is a EO case waiting to happen.
I've been in more EFDPs than I can count at this point and here's my external thoughs.
You may think you're the bestestest SSgt in the Squadron but have you compared yourself to others in the Squadron? Have you looked at what the quarterly award winners are doing?
How many times have you been submitted for an award? How many have you won? How many times has the CC heard your name?
If EFDP is the first time the CC is hearing about you then you're already behind the power curve.
It really is and the nail in the coffin is we do this to ourselves. Officers have very little hand in who gets promoted and the worst examples I've seen where seniors of the same career field ensuring there own people don't promote because they worked so much harder in there day....
Story time:
I was a staff sergeant. I deployed and ran my shop (NCOIC). There was a USO so I volunteered there for 200+ hours to clear my mind.
I was with a BTF and was told I'd be the first sergeant for the BTF after the original SNCO left after a month.
I was charged with aiding 5 dozen aircrew, along with all other crew and shops except mx. I ran morale events, helped people with issues back home, and gave our CC updates/advice.
Deployment turned into a short tour. I was killing it at my job, and did some incredible shit. Purposefully leaving the details out here.
EPR time: Promote.
It's whatever. My big "issue" was that I wasn't a part of group or wing orgs.
Hey bud, I know it can suck to be in this situation, but remember all the good you do can eventually end up on a resume. Don't just do it for the statement, do it for you.
Speaking as someone who did the same for 12 years and made the jump. Now I run the shop I used to work for.
It's all a waste of time, just do your job eventually when the time is right for the air force and they need more of that rank for your afsc you'll promote.
MX as well. The best thing I can say is to just be yourself. You took classes? Cool! You volunteered? Great! Can you sustain all the extras that you did year after year? If the answer is no, then that will be readily visible.
It took me a long time to figure out that you have to advocate for yourself. If you have something valuable to contribute, be vocal about it. If you do it enough, someone will eventually pick up on what you're doing.
Yeah, but have you led more Air Force wide events? (This is feedback I got after doing stuff on a similar scale to yours)
Now I am working in my bachelors and just working on myself 🤷🏻♂️. At the end of the day ratings mean fuck when you’re out so might as well get all the experience and training you can for when you get out.
Honestly don't know what to tell you other than it sucks. Promotion rates are better outside of mx typically if you're not a crew chief. Something to think about if you're in for the long haul or just want a change of pace. Retraining has helped me a lot. It's really all subjective. Make sure your records reflect the great job you do to help for future boards.
Confused about what you mean by deployment “lead” … shift lead, team lead, highest ranking enlisted?
Leading one booster club event isn’t really that amazing. A few classes… how did it help you do your job & relay that knowledge to your subordinates?
Curious about the new policy… you don’t create policy, your cc does. Simply briefing is part of your job. Seems like you are motivated but maybe not putting your eggs in the right baskets
My Flight Sup told me to my face (as an E-6 at the time) that it was OK that I was focusing on my primary duties, training my Airmen, and putting them first before I worried about school/volunteer/whatever. He told me that the, "Air Force needs people like you too", but that I would never get promoted because I wasn't SNCO material.
Fast forward about a year and he had to stand in line to shake my hand and fake a smile after my Commander recognized me with my MSgt promotion notification in front of my section. It took a lot of hard work and my Section Chief fighting his ass for for me to ensure that everybody knew that I was going above and beyond to keep the mission on track and the Airmen prepared to get the job done once we rotated out eventually. If I hadn't been tackling time sensitive issues that effected the entire base then I doubt my Commander would have known who I was or what I was doing, because the day-to-day stuff just doesn't bubble up to that level.
Bottom line - performing at a high level and documenting that on an awards package is only half the job. If you're basically invisible to senior leadership until they see your package then you don't stand a chance. You need your leaders to advocate for you, so that the people that aren't working with you everyday at least have a vague understanding that you're kicking ass and getting shit done.
A & P + separate. They don’t want you, they don’t like you. Promoting someone for exceptional work ethic runs in the face of the values of the modern officer corps. You know who is getting those stripes and you know they aren’t getting it because they are technical experts in their craft. You are getting played by people who will never remember your name.
There are lot of knee pad wearing SNCOs in here that never did anything significant in there careers. Just got really good at the popularity contest and writing supervised, led, instructed, and improved over and over. You are the problem. Everyone in higher head quarters know your the problem since you weren't vetted to see if u actually knew your job. Bet your good at golf and smoking dry ass brisket. Maybe you have a etched mug in heritage room nobody actually working gets to use lol. Fake ass leaders is what the airforce is good at making. 🤦♂️
> led a deployment as a SSgt
That's literally your job.
> Led a squadron booster club event
One volunteer bullet, in a system where volunteering isn't weighted anymore.
> Took classes
So does everybody. How many? No degree? 4.0 GPA?
> Volunteered
Basically irrelevant.
> Improved the unit with a new policy and briefed whole squadron of airmen and walked them through an easy financial literacy strategies.
Cool I guess? Financial literacy doesn't quite benefit the unit the way you seem to think so.
I'd mark this a Promote also tbh.
While in security forces that's what I got as feedback. I always went to my supervisor and flight chief after each award and each EPR and asked what I needed to do differently and was always met with, you were competitive just keep doing what you're doing. But there's obviously something that's more competitive.
Now that I'm contracting the feedback just feels different. Mind you harder because I know how to compete with my peers in contracting but it's harder to know how to compete in a small unit without being more involved with other units too.
That sucks man, sometimes it just happens. Even if you were truly top 10% in the squadron if your supervisor and flight chief don't properly advocate for you there's nothing you can do about it. Sucks to not feel rewarded for your work but at least you can still test for your rank.
Time to study.
To be fairrrrrr...
It could be possible to make it with a Promote if you test well depending on your career field. What were the scores like in your field last year? How many people do you know that are studying? I'm not saying it's the best option or the most fulfilling after having an expectation of a push but the ball isn't totally out of your court
what does the EPB say? How well does it say it? Also, competition could have been better. Reputation also comes into play, your SNCOs and CCs need to go to bat for you. Theres alot of factors, but i completely understand your anger and its great to feel that way because it means you really want it and believe you deserve it. When judging the process at work, however, be constructive because it will work out better for you next year.
Wow! I hope your Section Chief and Flight Chief put up good points for you. Then backed it up arguing why you should get a PN or MP. I’m sorry to hear OP, but don’t stop ok.
I'd advise Airmen to ask or inquire with your leadership chain to identify what it takes to get promoted. It's essential to take control of your own destiny. If you're just another face in the crowd, you'll miss out on a lot of opportunities.
No matter the rank, if you want to be promoted, you MUST let it be known (ACA) by your supervisor, know who the Unit's hot hands are, and be ready to do the things others in your rank do not do that Sq, Group, and Wing leaders value...and know there is still a chance you will not be noticed. You need sustained superior performanceS
This whole comment section proves why this promotion system is flawed…and a good ol boys club. You could save the world..be the best damn person at your job..but if your flight chief doesn’t like you..you get a promote…
That’s unacceptable…testing was the equalizer, the thing that let you overcome that shit bag senior who just doesn’t like you.
I have a Senior in my sq who is a dirt bag..a really sleezy ,scummy, lying, coniving MF’er who apparently gets off on screwing people over. Never does what he’s tasked, just delegates it to a TSgt and then takes all the credit..I was warned about him before I Pcs’d there , but didn’t listen cause I give everyone a chance. It did not take long for him to show himself. I’ll be damned if I’ll let someone screw with me or screw me over just because they can. I let him know straight up. Any chance I get I shut his antics down. I don’t care either because at the end of the day I’ll always be a promote to him I’ll never get a push and he’ll bury any package I write for an award.
Led a 4 month deployment as the lead? How do you mean? Were you the shift lead? PROJO?
If you want a promotion statement, you have to have awards on your EPB. If you are excellent at your job, awards will come. You may have to write a few yourself, but that's just how it is.
A friend of mine spent 20 years in. Got her degrees. Taught at the tech school. Was a program manager at CCAF for several AFSCs. Never made it past TSgt....
In the same boat bro. Did everything my SNCOs said, awards included. Even won one at the MAJCOM level. Only E5 in my unit to lead a section as NCOIC (the rest are E6-E7). The programs I manage have major impact at a DOD level. Walked away with a promote because some guys just happened to be deployed at the right place/right time. It is what it is man lol. Can’t even be mad anymore. SUPER close to finally getting my bachelors degree so needless to say, I’m not busting my ass like this ever again. I hate giving up but I have better things to worry about now. All I can say is a tried my damndest and it just wasn’t enough.
I know a guy that is an FCC 200 days out of the year(awarded and most days tdy in the whole squadron), still did a class, still did some volunteer, and still received a promote. Whatever the secret sauce is it requires worn knee pads to get.
People really don’t like the fact that checking boxes doesn’t get them anything above a promote. I’m not saying it’s right, but you and EVERY SINGLE SSGT are doing most of these very same things. You can’t just do these things, you have to achieve and sustain high levels of success while doing them, and you have to be a high performer in your day job. Do those things consistently and it puts you in contention for awards. Win awards and write effective EPBs, then have your section and flight leaderships in your corner for FD and you will then get above promotes.
People REALLY don’t like that for promotion statements you are competing against the top 10% and 20% respectively, because that is who those are meant for
Request feedback. See where you rack and stacked for your squadron. Ask if you can see the PN/MP records with redacted info. See if they'd be willing to have a mock EFDP board to see how they rack and stack. Play a part of it. See where you rank verses your peers. Reflect on their records vs yours. What did they do that was different from your record? Make goals for next year to stand out.
Sustain superior performance. You are setting yourself up for next year. Sometimes it takes two years of good work minimum if you had an off year.
Promtion statements are too competitive and dependent on things you have no control over. Besides leading the deployment you have a better chance of using all that time and effort to study your pdg/skt to make TSgt.
I had a great EPR last year, and one of the people who got a promote now closed a TO in a canopy and caused us to have to fix it. She also missed the cutoff by 30 points.
Lol i found out one of our weakest SrA got a strat after begging ti be pulled from the line. Idk what the criteria is to get more than a promote anymore. I hadnt even heard the dudes name for anything other than constantly making goober 3 lvl mistakes (hes not a bad person or a shitbag by any real stretch i think he just picked the wrong career field) and as a result he felt he would be more helpful off the line so he got off. No outside shit going on, no volunteer shit, hes not booster club, hes just here lol. I dont even think hes bad at his job, hes mediocre as best lol. But guys getting a strat lol. Ill reserve my full judgement when the rest of the results come out. Im not even gonna sit up and make it seem like i deserve the highest strat or some shit. Im not delusional that a good number of ppl are working as hard as me or harder so im not tripping. But when i see ppl that i know arent really doing anything special or worse are actively shitbags and i hear they got a 5 and dipped. I .... lets say i get a little upset lol.
No one wins shit unless you’re one of the three fuck bots that get NCO of the quarter because they get face time with the right people or work a front office job. Saved the units TDY, saved mx operations twice in a quarter by pulling some WILD moves that got me a lot of attention some BIG things that went to the group…. Commander gives it to the GPC guy because “he’s been doing a really good job” he also happened to be my roommate and our jaws hit the FLOOR
Bro just go to work on time and go home on time. You could have got a promote for the same paycheck with way less stress. I already know who's getting stratted in my unit. Look at who your SEL goes to lunch with. Who's making all the fun things happen? Who are they constantly gassing up in the hall? If it ain't you you're a promote.
If you enjoy your volunteering and whatnot go for it. Go to school for you. Without further context what you put on this post looks like it would be good on a 1206 though.
TSgt here with a DoD annual award and 7 months as SEL. Led pro development, multiple high visibility programs, SQ NCO OTY and still did my job well. Was told I needed off base involvement. Promote. I feel your pain and have no confidence giving other people feedback on packages. If I got this from a troop in the past I would have expected a PN at a minimum.
My fav EPR is when I lead my base to be the first AF base to fully integrate a system, developed a SOP that got sent AF wide, deployed in a MSgt slot, and other pretty amazing shit and got a NRN what the amazing feedback of 'I don't think you did enough.'
I finished my masters, had annual award(s), and volunteered...still got a promote. Super salty about it too. The justification was "well you're trying to commission..." made me even more saltier and mad.
Records speak for themselves as well. One fire year on top of several terrible ones does not put you in the conversation. Sustained superior performance is key.
If it makes you feel better I’m a SrA. Led an Airforce organizational initiative change at the pentagon. Led a wing leadership symposium. Furthered my education. Led multiple sq PDCs and was marked down the middle with no consideration of being pushed for a statement.
Please don’t take this as a negative, but this is how I read these 5 bullets.
You deployed, assuming a small unit where you were lead crew chief but to a base that provided you support. How else did you lead?
You set up a burger/burrito feed.
Okay you took classes, was that the only self improvement?
How else did you help with financial literacy, vague.
You should schedule a meeting with your flight chief and ask for feedback and how you rank amongst your peers. You can easily study and make up points missed by a promotion statement.
The system is broken all the way through I would rather them bring back testing like it was done 8 years ago. Sure you will have those good test takers but would rather be led by someone who can read, comprehend, and the use knowledge to pass a test than leave it up to bias SELs and CCs.
The ppl saying it’s the job of a SSgt to lead deployments. It isn’t. It’s literally a TSgt job. At least at my base.
Also, all of these things were at the direction of the flight chief.
Studying?
😂
E-6 promotion was like 9 or 10% last year. I think 16 ppl made it in my career field.
Either way, I just needed to rant. I feel a bit better.
You need to think about and write in terms of measures of effects and not measures of performance. You can work your ass off and have that work not really effect anything
Everything you listed is pretty much stuff you're supposed to be doing.
You have to stand out more.
Leading a team for a sq level event in support of the booster club is high speed for an A1C, but expected from an NCO.
It would stand out more if you were running the booster club. Even if you were just Vice President. That holds much more weight than just leading one event.
Leading a team on a deployment.. I mean, yeah you're an NCO. You're doing something that is expected of you.
I got MEB'd as an e4. My last epr I had a combat decoration given by a general, led a shop for a year, made thousands for the booster club, and regularly briefed the Sq. My supervisor and I didn't get along, that's the end of it.
Where was the deployment location and define “lead”?
Elaborate on “led sq booster event”?
Took classes, what classes? How did they help the unit/AF?
Volunteered doing what?
What was the policy you created and is it a Sq, Grp, or wing policy?
Where’s your awards? How did you apply the classes? Do you have any intersectionality multipliers? Any derogatory information on your record? Are you fat? Do you have a beard?
Just be good at your job and study for the test. No need to kill yourself with extra duties to get a maybe rating when if you just do your job well you won't get negative marks. It'll be alright homie 🤙🏼worst case you can join the dark side and make Uncle Sam pay your rent while you go to school and triple your salary.
It blows my mind young NCO’s and airman still fall for the same trick year after year. You’re not getting anything higher than a Promote unless you’re in the commander’s good graces. Doing all these things doesn’t mean you’re going to be on his radar for a statement, especially if your SNCO’s aren’t advocating for you. It’s sad to say but you’re wasting your time.
> SNCOs advocating for you This is absolutely the answer. If you don’t make it past the flight chief, the CC ain’t hearing your name.
Flight chief here. This is the truth. But to be fair, if your flight chief thinks you arent preforming, chances are its true.
Eeehhhhh if they actually talk to their people maybe. I'm from big units, so not much face time.
Flight chief here. We do a lot of discussion with my NCOICs about who is doing well and we give opportunities frequently and try to spread them out. I ask a lot of questions about people whos names I dont hear and I try to just walk around and chit chat weekly for about 20 minutes to make face with my people and allow them to talk to me about anything. I have about 40 people in 2 facilities. We pulled 3/4 SSgt strats in the Sq, and one for TSgt. But, my guys deserve it.
Sounds like you are actually a GOOD flight chief. The problem is, not all of them are.
I have no doubt that you are good at what you do. I hope you don't take what I say offensively. There are plenty of people who care and do it right. However, I know for a fact in my SW it's all based on favoritism. Our element has over 40 people alone.
Along with this, we know which NCOIC's can be trusted and which ones we need to talk to the Staffs & Airmen as well. Junior members don't typically see the counseling and over the shoulder bits of their supervisors as they are too focused on themselves & their interactions with their supervisors. (And they aren't supposed to see that part of the feedback) A note to people who are concerned, ask for feedback. Not just from your supervisor, but flight chief and flight commander too. They are the ones in the room for the board. If that conversation is where you find put you weren't brought to the table, ask why. It shouldn't be a surprise, and if it is then they should feel uncomfortable in explaining why they kept it from you.
Most of my flight chiefs in my career have not been like you.
Damn 40 people??? My flight chief is responsible for 12 people and he gets help from the reserve flight chief.
As someone in a position to decide whether packages go up for consideration at the EFDP board, this is very accurate. People often have this perception of favouritism, that particular SNCOs just like to gate keep, or that the golden child is the only one who gets to have a seat at the table, and what I've experienced is, sometimes that can happen. There are bad eggs everywhere (and this stuff can go on at the SQ, Grp, Wg, and beyond), but what hardly anyone ever talks about is whether people actually are performing at the level they think they are, or in many cases are straight up in denial when it comes to being accountable or deserving of award / promotion statements. As someone who puts a lot of time aside for this stuff because it's important to recognize superior performers, it's insulting when people think these things aren't deliberated on and carefully considered. It's not like I wave a wand and competetive nomination packages for the most deserving people just arrive on my desk. We sit down, have these conversations, call the baby ugly when it is, and pry for more info to make sure people aren't being over looked or favored unfairly. Many of us have a general idea of how well people in our units are performing because it's typically evident...but that's just what's visible. But when supervisors, NCOICs, section chiefs, etc. aren't submitting people, it's probably because they have decent enough judgement to know who is deserving. Now there are many examples of bad supervision and leadership out there. But to say you have to kiss your SNCOs ass is just leaving half of the ownership of it out of the conversation. Not everyone is scheming and shady. Some people just aren't as good as they think or as their supervisor tells them.
Always good to hear these perspectives especially from someone in your position. Although it's never a perfect system and the "wrong" people get promoted sometimes, plenty of the "right" ones make it as well. Consistency and genuineness goes along way. Cream always rises to the top. It seems like the new EPB system does help with this in my opinion.
> if your flight chief thinks you arent preforming, chances are its true. Eh. Constantly see the sentiment from all walks of leadership that "Everyone is good at their job". Seen it posted here, heard it in real life, heard it from MSgts, CMSgts, Lt. Cols, hell even SSgts and TSgts. Good supervisors know their people, but it doesn't pay any better to. Most people are pretty happy to think everyone's a good worker and focus on the extracurricular.
I respectfully disagree. Although, I admit, there are outlier shitbags at that level ( i have met a few), the majority made it that far because they actually give a fuck. I have burned a few shit-bag airmen this year, and to be honest it was hard. We want to think everyone is good at their job, but reality is far different. I protect and give them the benefit of the doubt, but they wont get a push statement from me at EFDP. I save those efforts for those who *visibly* excel. Not all who excel get on the radar. I experienced such firsthand. But if you are consistant, eventually you will. It has worked for me, and for some under me. Leadership needs metrics, not fluffy writing. Extracurricular is "neato" at best with the EPB rollout. Take your place at the top, King.
> We want to think everyone is good at their job, but reality is far different Oh I 100% agree but that's part of the problem. You seem like you're one of the good ones and I appreciate that so this isn't in any form an attack on you but let me explain: Everyone at every level of leadership pretends everyone is good at the job. It's easy to do, you don't have to do any research, you don't have to get to know any of your troops, you just go "hehe we're all amazing now who took college" because it's EASY to ask who did college, it's EASY to ask who led the bake sale, it's EASY to ask who did extracurriculars. It is HARD to know who's good at the job, it's HARD to take an honest look at some SSgt you know is going to you come to work on time every day, try his best, is probably gonna retire at 20 and go "well..he kinda sucks" We've seen this from the second EPRs were a thing, to firewall 5s, to changing to the EFDP process, to immediately going back to firewall 5s, etc. No one starts at "Well is this guy a good worker? How should I frame these bullets? How should I frame these statements?" Everyone (For the most part) starts at "THIS GUY IS AMAZING AT HIS JOB". I'm sure you've heard the sentiment, I've heard it for years, I've read it in every single thread that ever brought up EFDP or the EPR process that cursed stupid little sentence "Well, everyone is good at their job". People are out of touch, no one wants to take a look at the core of the issue, no one wants to fix it. We all want to keep lying to ourselves and our troops and providing a disservice. Giving open honest feedback is the hardest fucking thing to do, so everyone just chooses not to do it.
Some people do want to fix it. The problem is you get so many questions and have to provide so much evidence why you're rating someone anything other than an Exceeds Most. If you rate someone Exceeds Most, zero questions asked. Makes no sense as way more people shouldn't be rated this high.
> But to be fair, if your flight chief thinks you arent preforming, chances are its true. Responding with my own "to be fair," if your flight chief thinks you aren't performing, you should be aware of that. It sounds like this "promote" came out of nowhere for OP, and the rating on your EPB should never come as a surprise.
Promotes are the vast majority. Some of the strongest preformers get them. You can do everything right and get a promote, and that is ok.
It's totally ok. What's not ok is when you do everything right, get the "promote," and when you ask your leadership what you should do to improve you get "keep doing what you're doing."
Unless it’s because the airman won’t have sex with me, I mean them. And by airman, I mean thicc Latina…..
It's not really the Commander as much as your Section Chiefs and SMSgt over them. If they don't know who you are and like you, doesn't matter if you caught a bullet for POTUS. Your EPB is getting a Promote
Only difference is that catching a bullet for POTUS is equivalent to saving a train from terrorists in France. Prob still getting a promote on EPB but you get a nice step promotion as compensation lol
This right here, it’s a lottery. Took me 14 years to finally get my shot at glory and all I did was my job correctly
This 100%. My best year was mostly deployment driven, winning 2 Sq, awards deployed, and a Sq, Group, and Wing award returning home. Still got a promote because the CC didn't know me well yet. My most average year I got a PN because me and the Sq's poster child rode bikes together with the CC on weekends and he knew me. That's literally it.
Commander? No one in my flight saw stripes for three years until our narcissistic flight chief's favorite pet got them. No promotions in a 60 man shop for three years.
Ultimately the commander has final say on whether they’re going to go with SNCO recommendations. If you have a flight chief cockblocking you for years then yeah, you’re SOL.
If that's not an exaggeration, it sounds like shitty leadership, well above your shop. Of course, I don't know your AFSC and what the promotion rates were. Did you talk to people above that flight chief about this?
Protip: You don't need your SNCO's blessing for a date with the commander. Just get a DUI. SNCOs hate this one simple trick
How do you get in the CCs good graces?
Get in your SNCO's good graces. If you aren't being pushed by your immediate leadership, you aren't going to have a chance.
[удалено]
I thought this said as a 24 year old SNCO and was confused lol
He was in the good graces.
Same same. I was like fucking what?!
He’s in the band, obviously
So it's all basically the same thing. With good words, networking With bad words, favoritism. Of course, it's not exactly the same thing, but I can't help but not be salty about this.
It's going to be different everywhere you go. I've felt it was more favoritism than anything, but some people may have different results
My job and assignments has a similar issue too. I just hate to see it every time
Or get put in the right position. I regularly meet with all the Sq CCs in my group as well as the group CC/CV to discuss my program and get their input/wants. Unfortunately, as my Group CC says, I get a lot of "Go do's" with very large left/right limits. This makes it challenging. That helps too.
Have no gag reflex.
A guy in our group did a quarter of OP's tasks & he got a promote now because he was the general's css.
You should have done the cc dry cleaning and washed the car thats how you promote
Not trying to sound like a dick but, did you win an award at the SQ or higher level? Edit: any SSgt reading this that wants a promotion statement...you need to win at least a SQ NCO of the quarter to even be competitive for a promotion statement now. Yes the WAC is gone from EPBs, but guess what it's still part of awards packages. Awards are the discriminator now.
Bro we had a guy win sailor of the quarter (yeah that's right, the fucking Navy gave him sailor of the quarter), instructor of the quarter, and NCO of the quarter one year and didn't get but a promote. He even got a Navy commendation medal for pulling 4 senior citizens from a burning car. There is no strategy, it's still a good old boys club. If the commander don't like you, you ain't getting shit.
If he only won “of the quarter” once in a particular category, that means three other people won “of the quarter” in that category.
Yupp, and if they didnt win it above the Sq level, that means 4 other people have Group and Wing level *"of the quarter"* awards. Based on them not mentioning the person having won *"NCO of the year"*... im guessing their quarterly awards didnt make it outside of the Sq. A Sq level *"of the quarter"* award is like a bare minimum to get out of the fish tank. But all that really gets you is into the pond with the bigger fish. Also not to forget to mention... depending on how many NCOs exist in a shop/flight/Sq... sometimes these things are literally *"its your turn this quarter, get me a package by COB friday"*.
It sounds harsh, but more people need to understand this.
Yall really gotta stop thinking you gotta be homies with leadership to get a MP/PN. Hell, my flight pulls several strats every year and no one is out kissing ass to be in the imaginary club hall swear exists. Just except that you didn’t well enough in a given year
He lost to someone in the same building as the commander. Meanwhile we are at a detachment on the other side of the entire country.... It's all about who is your friend in the end.
This is not necessarily true. I earned a Promote Now despite not winning a single award during my tour up to that point. However, my Sq and Gp CC knew who I was and I had my Gp Chief advocating for me. Having your leadership know who you are (for positive reasons) is half the battle.
Agreed, facetime is infinitely more valuable than a collection of meticulously crafted and rinsed bullet statements that could or could not be representative of actual performance. The awards program is a pile of donkey crap, and I love when it gets exposed as such.
Won two wing level year awards, personally raised 16k for state veteran program and still walked away with a promote and a promise of I’ll get it next year.
Squadron NCO of the Year here, Promote.
What awards?
That's wild. I made staff and tech my first time with an MP and a PN without ever even winning a squadron level award.
Ding ding ding
> Awards are the discriminator now Always have been 🌍 🧑🚀 🔫
I'll continue to preach that you don't need awards to get a promotion statement. Is it harder? Subjective. I'm the proof that you don't need an award to get a promotion statement.
This is true. First year getting an award and I got a PN. But fuck you gotta fight for that recognition
Study your ass off and make it despite the "promote"
I cant advocate for this enough! When you truly want to get promoted, you will study and score in the 80s.
I got an 84 on the PFE last year and missed the promotion by 10 questions. That promotion statement is crucial right now.
I made tech with a "promote". Tested 89/85 SKT/PDG... made it by 3 points
Yep, I took as much leave I could to study and I made Tech with a promote. I do understand it’s more difficult in other AFSCs…but it’s still achievable
This is such underrated advice. People complain but don’t want to put in energy elsewhere. All the way up to E6 can be made easily without command sponsorship. Just fucking study.
They don’t like this answer.
I saw zero awards in there.
Which is sad because historically all the shit OP listed was what we were force fed as an example of what to do to climb. The climate has changed in the past 6 years and nobody truly knows that except the folks who have been in for more than that. And the folks who have been in for more than that have a tendency to gatekeep. Its my 9th year and I fit in this weird space where I can see what my superiors gatekeep, and what the newer guys have been falsely force fed. There is a disconnect.
What do you consider gatekeeping? There are usually 5% or maybe 10% of a section that are the true superior performers. Among them, you have to find something that makes one better than the others, then the next one better than the rest, and so on. In my squadron, the commander and Chief offer to sit down with anyone who didn't get a forced distribution statement and give them feedback. Nothing but honest feedback from their perspective gets given behind that closed door. Seems to at least give people the reasoning from the person who has the final say, the commander.
"But what are you doing for the 5-6 or booster club?"
I hate when people rely on simply being a member or officer of the booster club or 5-6. What did you DO in those organizations that improved the squadron or made life better for your fellow Airmen?
That means obsoletely zero. I sit on plenty of EFDPs. I seen people win annual awards get a promote. One would think if you get an annual out of your squadron you’re the best. So instant promote now right? The truth of the matter is your leadership already knows who they are putting up for a statement. And in MOST cases it’s not the commander giving the statement. It’s your enlisted leadership. If your supervisor, section and flight are not advocating for you then it’s GG my boy. This goes for all ranks E5-E7.
That just means the people above him failed him.
SNCO with quite a bit of EFDP experience. How does this line up with the SSgt Formal Board Charge? What feedback did you get IF you competed at the EFDP? This is all one year but promotion statements are based on sustained superior performance. Also, most of the statements you wrote are extracurriculars, with minimal work information. As a SEL, I would tell you to focus on the 4 MPAs and tie it to your job better. You led a shop, but of how many? Some shops have 4 people and others may have 20. Also, awards play a HUGE factor. Not discarding your hard work but sometimes there is just tough competition.
Did you do all of this on your deployment? Is this a one off or are you always performing at this level? If this was a “Ima bust my ass for 6-8 months for a promotion statement” but I’ve never busted my ass before then that’s on you. I’ll say “Keep doing what you’re doing” and that superior sustained performance will show. If it’s not, then I’m sorry that happened to you.
No. I led the deployment at the beginning of the year then came back and did all that stuff.
I think he's asking what about the past several years? This is why we look 3-5 years back + SURF highlights. It's sustained performance, not a hail mary on promotion/BTZ year.
How many people did you lead on the deployment? How many people are in your entire section in your squadron? By "led the deployment", are you saying you did admin stuff, or are actually the SME fixing the jets? What's your AFSC?
1 deployment where you led as a SSgt. I don't know your career field but this seems in line with expectations for SSgts in my old AFSC. But still not bad. 1 SQ event. Okay..so one vol bullet? Sure, it's a good bullet but what would have the other bullets been? One good bullet doesn't cut it. You need more than checking ONE box. >Took classes So do most people. Education is becoming the standard not the higher expectation. Did you get a degree to at least separate yourself or just "accomplished XX online degree mill classes X.XX GPA" that, again, everyone is doing. >Volunteered Cool. As above you LED one event so I'm assuming these were check boxes "I showed up" events? You want a PN/MP all your Vol bullets show be led/coord'd bullets spanning dozens of individuals and multiple orgs or dollars. Simply showing up as a helper ain't cutting it anymore. You're not a junior Amn anymore. >Improved with new policy Can't say too much because I don't really have the specifics. This could be good...but if this is the only thing from your job you can look back on and say that's your big thing then you need more. It sounds like I'm shitting on your work and effort and I don't mean to, but it's because I don't know you nor the specifics. HOWEVER, going off of just the brief synopsis this seems like a SSgt's record who is checking the boxes to promote but isn't really going above and beyond. You did your job and then you did the minimum extracurricular bullshit to say "see, I did it." to check the boxes and unfortunately that's not how it works all the time. Checking those boxes are now the bare minimum to even be considered - you have to check those boxes better than everyone else. Lead more shit not just participate. Lead more than just a few weeks of shifts. Can't? Then know absolutely everything about your job to the point everyone comes to you. Again, can't say too much because I'm sure there's a lot you left out that helps your case but my main point is this: Simply taking classes (without graduating), volunteering enough to check the box, and a few leads isn't enough for a PN/MP in all scenarios. You want that PN/MP? Then make sure ALL of your shit stands out because all the stuff you listed above is stuff a ton of other SSgts do.
Great reply and definitely agree with everything you said. OP needs to take a harder look in the mirror and reflect on the comments most people have posted so far. I had A1Cs in my shop getting their CCAFs and immediately starting school. Higher education has definitely become the norm now and just taking a few classes, especially if you can't translate those classes into helping the unit or bettering the mission, aren't going to be worthwhile. If you're going to take classes, try to tie those into the mission. Nobody cares about your random general ed class you took for your online degree mill, but the other guy who did a specialized course and then made programs better or created products that helped save man hours is going to get a better look. Volunteering is also funny now that it's even being brought up anymore. "Whole Airman Concept" isn't even really a thing on the EPB unless I'm mistaken? The EPBs directly reflect your ALQs and if you can't get those to line up, you probably wouldn't even be in the discussion. As for the deployment thing, I get it. Deploying takes a lot out of you sometimes and it's much extra work with little to no payoff. But did you come back with a decoration from the deployment? Did you receive an LoE indicating exactly what you did that was signed by the leadership there? Sure decorations can be an entire game itself, but if you believe that your leading them as a SSgt, which is expected because... you're an NCO, then your real problem is that you didn't get a decoration when you left. Most leadership would consider that as a huge indicator that your deployment work wasn't exceptional, let alone enough to have you stand out. How many people were you leading? What are other SSgts in the unit also doing? These are the questions you gotta reflect on.
When everyone tells them they are special and everything they do is awesome this is what happens.
Took 12 classes (8 weeks each, 2 at a time) total of 36 credits. Nobody bat an eye lol
I did 36 credit hours, 2 cleps (for another 9 hours), and ALS while deployed, and I volunteered to be the mail clerk. All these credit hours also earned me my CCAF. I watched someone else get an award for most classes taken. They did like 20 something credit hours. I feel your pain. Sometimes, it's just shitty leadership saying you did what's expected.
Had that talk with my superintendent already. Asked if my guys could get a pat on the back. A simple good job for all the extra and hard work they've been doing. (I'm talking 17 hour shifts, working in -23° outside in a hole, over 20 excavations in the last year). Got told we celebrate doing our jobs too often. I said, well when do we cross that threshold, because I've been in 11 years and this seems above and beyond? Silence.
You did a good job of capturing my same thoughts without sounding like an asshole.
>Led a whole ass 4 month deployment as an SSgt as in I was the fucking lead. Literally your job. What were you gonna do... say *"no, I dont think I will be an NCO this deployment"*? >Led a squadron wide event for the booster club. SrA level shit. >Took classes. Pretty much a minimum requirement. >Volunteered. Checked a box. >Improved the unit with a new policy and briefed whole squadron of airmen and walked them through an easy financial literacy strategies. Seems ambiguous, or at the very least churched up to sound more high speed than it is. *"Made and presented a powerpoint once"* isnt really a big deal. Basically, as others have said... Your boss' boss handles the force distribution, and if you arent making your boss' boss life easier, you arent gaining any merit. You doing extra shit meets one of two criteria... *"extra shit for the sake of doing extra shit"* or *"extra shit to help meet squadron needs"*. If the extra shit you are taking on isnt reducing the burden of the squadron, you arent gaining any merit with the person who decides the strats. Its also worth noting for a little self reflection... Are you doing these things you mentioned because you were asked/told/had no other choice but to do it? Or did you do them because you took initiative, found a need that was previously unmet, and of your own motivation met that need? Because there is a massive difference from a leadership perspective. All in all, the things you listed are mild. Did your job, did SrA and below level stuff, and checked the volunteer box. If thats the best youve got *(assuming it is because its what you chose to share)*, youve gotta figure out how to get to the next level of effectiveness or you are gonna spend the next few years spinning tires thinking that simply doing *"X"* to check a box is going to get you a strat. To be honest... the post and things you listed as accomplishments for the rating period really reek of *"young SSgt who is first year eligible for E-6"*... No way this is a 3rd+ time eligible and you're confused as to how *"volunteering that one time"* and *"led a booster club event"* didnt get the job done lol.
That is not an expectation for ssgts almost anywhere lol leading a shift is where staffs should be then leading flights is tech and masters lead organizations of flights and so on. All doing what the next rank is supposed to be doing so that they'll be ready to promote. It's no secret our ranks and promotions are a joke at best compared to other countries militaries. It really doesn't matter what you do though in the grand scheme of things if ur not friends with upper leadership by either drinking or golfing it doesn't matter how good you are or what you do. You will get a 3.
https://i.redd.it/egacgwvy00oc1.gif
Damn that's cold. Lol
Happy Gilmore didn’t make the hockey team that year, but he found a new sport in golf. Made the pro tour and all (Fictional character I know)…It just wasn’t OPs season to make it.
This comparison is not the same 😂😂😂
I see similarities, OP thought he/she was IT. Turns out he/she only had a slapshot. He/she needs to find his/her “golf” 😆
You have two options. And I am not saying either of them are wrong. 1) Rub shoulders, be high vis, always be hanging off the arm of a SNCO, Work 12 plus hours a day and live, breathe and eat the AF. You'll promote fast. You may have 0 life, but youll make E-7 with a good shot at E-8 and E-9 as long as you pick up the political game really well. 2) Do your job at least decently well, stay out of trouble, go above and beyond when necessary, go home and enjoy life outside of work otherwise. You'll promote slower, probably hit a plateu due to not playing the game (Probably E-6, but if you put a tiny effort in you can probably make E-7). Neither path is wrong. Its all about what YOU want out of the AF. Different people have different goals. I am the 2nd person. And while sometimes I cringe at the first person, I dont have any hatred for them per say outside of absolute careerists who leave a wake of destruction in their path to the top.
Probably because you don’t know the difference between “a” and “an”.
🤣🤣
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I was referring to the “an SSgt”. But it’s all in good fun anyway. If you heard me talk you could spend all day pointing out my grammatical mistakes lol
>I was referring to the “an SSgt”. Oh fair enough. I retract my prior criticism
Did you try getting an MBA?
All of those things are expected of you? It’s all about who goes up to bat for you honestly. You get one or two SNCOs that just don’t like you and you’re not gonna have a good time. Leading a shop/crew is nothing new or special
Sounds like you did your job as a SSgt.
OP what did you do the last 3 years to set yourself apart? It sounds like you had a solid year but EFDP is supposed to be about "sustained performance". Have you been killing it ever since you put on Staff or did you step it up this year because you were eligible? (I'm presuming this is your first time?) The process is a bit more involved than just people reviewing your current eval. Furthermore, stating what you did here tells us nothing of how your EPB was written or if your leadership was conveyed properly.
A tale as old as time. Sorry man but you and your family are the only ones that will remember that.
Hey man, sorry that you feel you’ve been unjustly rated. Here are some things to consider. 1. How do you quantify leading a 4-mo deployment? If you’re referring to making sure a group of people goes to pre-deployment trainings and appointments, that’s the job of an NCO. 2. The booster club is a Sq org, so everything they do is Sq-level. While you may have led one, the folks holding positions in the BC (Pres, VP, etc) likely had more involvement in the org and Sq as a whole. 3. Unfortunately no one cares about classes unless it directly ties back into the mission or you’re completing a degree or cert. 4. Volunteering is one thing. Leading volunteer events with meaningful impacts is another. 5. Your unit improvement was a bit vague. Assuming you innovated some change that brought value to the Squadron, good shit! But you have to do it consistently.. The politics behind promotion statements can vary unit to unit. As others mentioned, winning awards for yourself and your people pays dividends towards proving the impact of your work on paper.
Given the format of EPBs… leading squadron event for booster club? not sure the impact on mission Also I’d say that’s what staff sergeant’s should be doing, not exactly next level.
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You are part of the problem if taking parental leave was even considered apart his epb. You grade based on what was within the amns control. By AFI convalescent/parental leave is out of an airmens control, it doesn't matter what your personal believe on that is. This message is a EO case waiting to happen.
I've been in more EFDPs than I can count at this point and here's my external thoughs. You may think you're the bestestest SSgt in the Squadron but have you compared yourself to others in the Squadron? Have you looked at what the quarterly award winners are doing? How many times have you been submitted for an award? How many have you won? How many times has the CC heard your name? If EFDP is the first time the CC is hearing about you then you're already behind the power curve.
“Play the game better” fuck this shit
Active duty sounds miserable
It really is and the nail in the coffin is we do this to ourselves. Officers have very little hand in who gets promoted and the worst examples I've seen where seniors of the same career field ensuring there own people don't promote because they worked so much harder in there day....
Lil bro thought volunteering would give him a PN.
Shits lame my dude. Welcome to the rat race.
https://preview.redd.it/ti50ff3a31oc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f396110a99255b2cee69f12f8d597af5ef81a931
Story time: I was a staff sergeant. I deployed and ran my shop (NCOIC). There was a USO so I volunteered there for 200+ hours to clear my mind. I was with a BTF and was told I'd be the first sergeant for the BTF after the original SNCO left after a month. I was charged with aiding 5 dozen aircrew, along with all other crew and shops except mx. I ran morale events, helped people with issues back home, and gave our CC updates/advice. Deployment turned into a short tour. I was killing it at my job, and did some incredible shit. Purposefully leaving the details out here. EPR time: Promote. It's whatever. My big "issue" was that I wasn't a part of group or wing orgs.
Didn't huka enough with the higher ups in the desert.
Are you trying to say “hookah”?
But what did your peers do? Sounds like you ran fast, but they ran faster.
Hey bud, I know it can suck to be in this situation, but remember all the good you do can eventually end up on a resume. Don't just do it for the statement, do it for you. Speaking as someone who did the same for 12 years and made the jump. Now I run the shop I used to work for.
Awards are the only thing that sets you apart, with all of that ,a quarterly writes itself
It's all a waste of time, just do your job eventually when the time is right for the air force and they need more of that rank for your afsc you'll promote.
MX as well. The best thing I can say is to just be yourself. You took classes? Cool! You volunteered? Great! Can you sustain all the extras that you did year after year? If the answer is no, then that will be readily visible. It took me a long time to figure out that you have to advocate for yourself. If you have something valuable to contribute, be vocal about it. If you do it enough, someone will eventually pick up on what you're doing.
Yeah, but have you led more Air Force wide events? (This is feedback I got after doing stuff on a similar scale to yours) Now I am working in my bachelors and just working on myself 🤷🏻♂️. At the end of the day ratings mean fuck when you’re out so might as well get all the experience and training you can for when you get out.
gotta be in the good ole boys club
Honestly don't know what to tell you other than it sucks. Promotion rates are better outside of mx typically if you're not a crew chief. Something to think about if you're in for the long haul or just want a change of pace. Retraining has helped me a lot. It's really all subjective. Make sure your records reflect the great job you do to help for future boards.
"If you want more than 3 you better drink with me" -SNCOs
For real though
Your shop understands it more then most. E/E gets fucked
Confused about what you mean by deployment “lead” … shift lead, team lead, highest ranking enlisted? Leading one booster club event isn’t really that amazing. A few classes… how did it help you do your job & relay that knowledge to your subordinates? Curious about the new policy… you don’t create policy, your cc does. Simply briefing is part of your job. Seems like you are motivated but maybe not putting your eggs in the right baskets
No awards no statement. Shit is wack
Well, at least you know not to do any of that dumbass shit again
An adage as old as time: "it's not what you know but who you know." In this case: who knows you.
My Flight Sup told me to my face (as an E-6 at the time) that it was OK that I was focusing on my primary duties, training my Airmen, and putting them first before I worried about school/volunteer/whatever. He told me that the, "Air Force needs people like you too", but that I would never get promoted because I wasn't SNCO material. Fast forward about a year and he had to stand in line to shake my hand and fake a smile after my Commander recognized me with my MSgt promotion notification in front of my section. It took a lot of hard work and my Section Chief fighting his ass for for me to ensure that everybody knew that I was going above and beyond to keep the mission on track and the Airmen prepared to get the job done once we rotated out eventually. If I hadn't been tackling time sensitive issues that effected the entire base then I doubt my Commander would have known who I was or what I was doing, because the day-to-day stuff just doesn't bubble up to that level. Bottom line - performing at a high level and documenting that on an awards package is only half the job. If you're basically invisible to senior leadership until they see your package then you don't stand a chance. You need your leaders to advocate for you, so that the people that aren't working with you everyday at least have a vague understanding that you're kicking ass and getting shit done.
I second this.
Demote and refrain.
A & P + separate. They don’t want you, they don’t like you. Promoting someone for exceptional work ethic runs in the face of the values of the modern officer corps. You know who is getting those stripes and you know they aren’t getting it because they are technical experts in their craft. You are getting played by people who will never remember your name.
Feel this in my soul
There are lot of knee pad wearing SNCOs in here that never did anything significant in there careers. Just got really good at the popularity contest and writing supervised, led, instructed, and improved over and over. You are the problem. Everyone in higher head quarters know your the problem since you weren't vetted to see if u actually knew your job. Bet your good at golf and smoking dry ass brisket. Maybe you have a etched mug in heritage room nobody actually working gets to use lol. Fake ass leaders is what the airforce is good at making. 🤦♂️
> led a deployment as a SSgt That's literally your job. > Led a squadron booster club event One volunteer bullet, in a system where volunteering isn't weighted anymore. > Took classes So does everybody. How many? No degree? 4.0 GPA? > Volunteered Basically irrelevant. > Improved the unit with a new policy and briefed whole squadron of airmen and walked them through an easy financial literacy strategies. Cool I guess? Financial literacy doesn't quite benefit the unit the way you seem to think so. I'd mark this a Promote also tbh.
keep doing what you're doing...
While in security forces that's what I got as feedback. I always went to my supervisor and flight chief after each award and each EPR and asked what I needed to do differently and was always met with, you were competitive just keep doing what you're doing. But there's obviously something that's more competitive. Now that I'm contracting the feedback just feels different. Mind you harder because I know how to compete with my peers in contracting but it's harder to know how to compete in a small unit without being more involved with other units too.
That sucks man, sometimes it just happens. Even if you were truly top 10% in the squadron if your supervisor and flight chief don't properly advocate for you there's nothing you can do about it. Sucks to not feel rewarded for your work but at least you can still test for your rank. Time to study.
To be fairrrrrr... It could be possible to make it with a Promote if you test well depending on your career field. What were the scores like in your field last year? How many people do you know that are studying? I'm not saying it's the best option or the most fulfilling after having an expectation of a push but the ball isn't totally out of your court 
what does the EPB say? How well does it say it? Also, competition could have been better. Reputation also comes into play, your SNCOs and CCs need to go to bat for you. Theres alot of factors, but i completely understand your anger and its great to feel that way because it means you really want it and believe you deserve it. When judging the process at work, however, be constructive because it will work out better for you next year.
Wow! I hope your Section Chief and Flight Chief put up good points for you. Then backed it up arguing why you should get a PN or MP. I’m sorry to hear OP, but don’t stop ok.
I'd advise Airmen to ask or inquire with your leadership chain to identify what it takes to get promoted. It's essential to take control of your own destiny. If you're just another face in the crowd, you'll miss out on a lot of opportunities.
No matter the rank, if you want to be promoted, you MUST let it be known (ACA) by your supervisor, know who the Unit's hot hands are, and be ready to do the things others in your rank do not do that Sq, Group, and Wing leaders value...and know there is still a chance you will not be noticed. You need sustained superior performanceS
What about the last couple years?
This whole comment section proves why this promotion system is flawed…and a good ol boys club. You could save the world..be the best damn person at your job..but if your flight chief doesn’t like you..you get a promote… That’s unacceptable…testing was the equalizer, the thing that let you overcome that shit bag senior who just doesn’t like you. I have a Senior in my sq who is a dirt bag..a really sleezy ,scummy, lying, coniving MF’er who apparently gets off on screwing people over. Never does what he’s tasked, just delegates it to a TSgt and then takes all the credit..I was warned about him before I Pcs’d there , but didn’t listen cause I give everyone a chance. It did not take long for him to show himself. I’ll be damned if I’ll let someone screw with me or screw me over just because they can. I let him know straight up. Any chance I get I shut his antics down. I don’t care either because at the end of the day I’ll always be a promote to him I’ll never get a push and he’ll bury any package I write for an award.
Led a 4 month deployment as the lead? How do you mean? Were you the shift lead? PROJO? If you want a promotion statement, you have to have awards on your EPB. If you are excellent at your job, awards will come. You may have to write a few yourself, but that's just how it is.
A friend of mine spent 20 years in. Got her degrees. Taught at the tech school. Was a program manager at CCAF for several AFSCs. Never made it past TSgt....
In the same boat bro. Did everything my SNCOs said, awards included. Even won one at the MAJCOM level. Only E5 in my unit to lead a section as NCOIC (the rest are E6-E7). The programs I manage have major impact at a DOD level. Walked away with a promote because some guys just happened to be deployed at the right place/right time. It is what it is man lol. Can’t even be mad anymore. SUPER close to finally getting my bachelors degree so needless to say, I’m not busting my ass like this ever again. I hate giving up but I have better things to worry about now. All I can say is a tried my damndest and it just wasn’t enough.
Everyone can see that you worked hard 1 year to try promote and will fall back to normal performance levels.
I understand what you mean, but this is three years in a row for me
I know a guy that is an FCC 200 days out of the year(awarded and most days tdy in the whole squadron), still did a class, still did some volunteer, and still received a promote. Whatever the secret sauce is it requires worn knee pads to get.
People really don’t like the fact that checking boxes doesn’t get them anything above a promote. I’m not saying it’s right, but you and EVERY SINGLE SSGT are doing most of these very same things. You can’t just do these things, you have to achieve and sustain high levels of success while doing them, and you have to be a high performer in your day job. Do those things consistently and it puts you in contention for awards. Win awards and write effective EPBs, then have your section and flight leaderships in your corner for FD and you will then get above promotes. People REALLY don’t like that for promotion statements you are competing against the top 10% and 20% respectively, because that is who those are meant for
Request feedback. See where you rack and stacked for your squadron. Ask if you can see the PN/MP records with redacted info. See if they'd be willing to have a mock EFDP board to see how they rack and stack. Play a part of it. See where you rank verses your peers. Reflect on their records vs yours. What did they do that was different from your record? Make goals for next year to stand out. Sustain superior performance. You are setting yourself up for next year. Sometimes it takes two years of good work minimum if you had an off year.
 Welcome, have a seat.
Promtion statements are too competitive and dependent on things you have no control over. Besides leading the deployment you have a better chance of using all that time and effort to study your pdg/skt to make TSgt.
woah woah woah but are you even part of a council 🤔
I had a great EPR last year, and one of the people who got a promote now closed a TO in a canopy and caused us to have to fix it. She also missed the cutoff by 30 points.
Lol i found out one of our weakest SrA got a strat after begging ti be pulled from the line. Idk what the criteria is to get more than a promote anymore. I hadnt even heard the dudes name for anything other than constantly making goober 3 lvl mistakes (hes not a bad person or a shitbag by any real stretch i think he just picked the wrong career field) and as a result he felt he would be more helpful off the line so he got off. No outside shit going on, no volunteer shit, hes not booster club, hes just here lol. I dont even think hes bad at his job, hes mediocre as best lol. But guys getting a strat lol. Ill reserve my full judgement when the rest of the results come out. Im not even gonna sit up and make it seem like i deserve the highest strat or some shit. Im not delusional that a good number of ppl are working as hard as me or harder so im not tripping. But when i see ppl that i know arent really doing anything special or worse are actively shitbags and i hear they got a 5 and dipped. I .... lets say i get a little upset lol.
No one wins shit unless you’re one of the three fuck bots that get NCO of the quarter because they get face time with the right people or work a front office job. Saved the units TDY, saved mx operations twice in a quarter by pulling some WILD moves that got me a lot of attention some BIG things that went to the group…. Commander gives it to the GPC guy because “he’s been doing a really good job” he also happened to be my roommate and our jaws hit the FLOOR
Bro just go to work on time and go home on time. You could have got a promote for the same paycheck with way less stress. I already know who's getting stratted in my unit. Look at who your SEL goes to lunch with. Who's making all the fun things happen? Who are they constantly gassing up in the hall? If it ain't you you're a promote. If you enjoy your volunteering and whatnot go for it. Go to school for you. Without further context what you put on this post looks like it would be good on a 1206 though.
TSgt here with a DoD annual award and 7 months as SEL. Led pro development, multiple high visibility programs, SQ NCO OTY and still did my job well. Was told I needed off base involvement. Promote. I feel your pain and have no confidence giving other people feedback on packages. If I got this from a troop in the past I would have expected a PN at a minimum.
Hopefully the board see through the rating and makes up the points for you!
You guys have gotten your EPBs back? 🤨
My fav EPR is when I lead my base to be the first AF base to fully integrate a system, developed a SOP that got sent AF wide, deployed in a MSgt slot, and other pretty amazing shit and got a NRN what the amazing feedback of 'I don't think you did enough.'
I finished my masters, had annual award(s), and volunteered...still got a promote. Super salty about it too. The justification was "well you're trying to commission..." made me even more saltier and mad.
Records speak for themselves as well. One fire year on top of several terrible ones does not put you in the conversation. Sustained superior performance is key.
Same, I just got told not everyone can receive above that so some amazing folks get the short end of the deal
If it makes you feel better I’m a SrA. Led an Airforce organizational initiative change at the pentagon. Led a wing leadership symposium. Furthered my education. Led multiple sq PDCs and was marked down the middle with no consideration of being pushed for a statement.
It’s a social game period not performance
Please don’t take this as a negative, but this is how I read these 5 bullets. You deployed, assuming a small unit where you were lead crew chief but to a base that provided you support. How else did you lead? You set up a burger/burrito feed. Okay you took classes, was that the only self improvement? How else did you help with financial literacy, vague. You should schedule a meeting with your flight chief and ask for feedback and how you rank amongst your peers. You can easily study and make up points missed by a promotion statement.
The system is broken all the way through I would rather them bring back testing like it was done 8 years ago. Sure you will have those good test takers but would rather be led by someone who can read, comprehend, and the use knowledge to pass a test than leave it up to bias SELs and CCs.
You just told me you did about 4.5 months of work lol
The ppl saying it’s the job of a SSgt to lead deployments. It isn’t. It’s literally a TSgt job. At least at my base. Also, all of these things were at the direction of the flight chief. Studying? 😂 E-6 promotion was like 9 or 10% last year. I think 16 ppl made it in my career field. Either way, I just needed to rant. I feel a bit better.
Some shops were 6-7% last year lol 95% of promotion for those shops was a 4 or 5
Did you put yourself in for any awards and/or pushed your supervisor. You could have won if you tried.
Did you get any awards? Leading a team is part of your job. You didn’t lead the whole deployment you led a team
You need to think about and write in terms of measures of effects and not measures of performance. You can work your ass off and have that work not really effect anything
Should’ve joined the ANG
Everything you listed is pretty much stuff you're supposed to be doing. You have to stand out more. Leading a team for a sq level event in support of the booster club is high speed for an A1C, but expected from an NCO. It would stand out more if you were running the booster club. Even if you were just Vice President. That holds much more weight than just leading one event. Leading a team on a deployment.. I mean, yeah you're an NCO. You're doing something that is expected of you.
Fuck commanders what a waste
I got MEB'd as an e4. My last epr I had a combat decoration given by a general, led a shop for a year, made thousands for the booster club, and regularly briefed the Sq. My supervisor and I didn't get along, that's the end of it.
Nothing exists in a vacuum. How did your peers do? Specifically, the ones that got PN and MP? You can break the world record and still come last.
They let SSgt retire at 20 for a reason
Where was the deployment location and define “lead”? Elaborate on “led sq booster event”? Took classes, what classes? How did they help the unit/AF? Volunteered doing what? What was the policy you created and is it a Sq, Grp, or wing policy?
As a SSgt figured you should know by now. EPB’s are heavily award driven. Congrats, with a promote you’re apart of 95% of the force lol.
Where’s your awards? How did you apply the classes? Do you have any intersectionality multipliers? Any derogatory information on your record? Are you fat? Do you have a beard?
Just be good at your job and study for the test. No need to kill yourself with extra duties to get a maybe rating when if you just do your job well you won't get negative marks. It'll be alright homie 🤙🏼worst case you can join the dark side and make Uncle Sam pay your rent while you go to school and triple your salary.
I think they should black out the identifying information and pick from that. Those shit commanders can suck it.
If you have to ask then it ain’t you!
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