DECEMBER 4, 2014, WASHINGTON (AFNS) – The Air Force continues the phased implementation of its Enlisted Evaluation System and Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS) changes with the convening of a master sergeant evaluation board scheduled for May 2015.
Evaluation and promotion system changes, scheduled for implementation over the next 16 months for active-duty Airmen, are focused on ensuring job performance is the most important factor when evaluating and identifying Airmen for promotion.
Master Sergeant Evaluation Board
The revamped master sergeant promotion process will be divided into two phases –Phase I and a Phase II which contains an evaluation board similar to the current senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant evaluation boards.
Under Phase I, promotion eligible technical sergeants, as of the Nov. 30 promotion eligibility cut-off date (PECD), will be scheduled to complete their WAPS tests (specialty knowledge test (SKT) and/or promotion fitness examination (PFE)) during the February – March 2015 testing window. Promotion eligible technical sergeants complete WAPS testing in the same testing window as promotion eligible staff sergeants; therefore, force support squadrons have been instructed to give testing priority to their technical sergeant population. This will assist the Air Force Personnel Center in completing the Phase I process which includes ensuring SKT and/or PFE minimum scores have been met and establishing each Air Force specialty code’s (AFSC) Phase I cut-line.
Each Airman’s test scores will be combined with their other weighted factor points (time in grade, time in service, decorations and enlisted performance reports) to determine an initial score. Scoring will follow the previously released WAPS point model for staff sergeants through master sergeants. The top 60 percent of Airmen, by score in each AFSC, will then move forward to Phase II of the promotion process where their records will meet an evaluation board. In addition, in AFSCs where there are 15 or less eligible Airmen, all records will be advanced to the Phase II evaluation board provided the minimum SKT/PFE scores have been met.
During phase II, board members will follow the same process as the current senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant boards. They will review the selection folder containing each Airman’s evaluation brief, EPRs closing out within 10 years of the PECD, and all decorations received over the Airman’s entire career. Any Article 15 received within two years of the PECD and recommended for placement in the selection folder by a commander will also be visible.
The evaluation board will provide a score for each Airman’s record. That board score will replace an Airman’s weighted EPR points score from the Phase I portion of the process. The board score is then combined with the remaining WAPS factor scores from Phase I to produce a final overall score. Ultimately, this final WAPS score allows the creation of an order of merit that ranks Airmen by total score for each AFSC.
For the last step, the promotion quota is applied to each AFSC order of merit to determine the final master sergeant promotion selections. See the table describing the revised scoring and an associated example calculation.
Consistent with current practice, deployed Airmen and those serving in a temporary duty assignment location unable to test during the normal testing cycle will be considered for promotion through the supplemental promotion process.
Additional SNCO Promotion Adjustments
The Air Force is also adjusting the WAPS scoring model for chief and senior master sergeant promotions beginning with the 15E9 chief master sergeant and 16E8 senior master sergeant promotion cycles. Starting with these cycles, weighted EPR points will no longer be included in the final WAPS score calculations for promotion eligible master sergeants and senior master sergeants.
Airmen competing for promotion to senior master sergeant and chief master sergeant will have their points calculated using the following factors: United States Air Force supervisory examination, time in grade, time in service, decorations and a board score. Additionally, to be promotion eligible master sergeants and senior master sergeants must have completed a Community College of the Air Force degree, in any discipline, and must have completed the Senior NCO Academy via correspondence or in-residence, on or before the PECD.
Details on the composition of the SNCO enlisted performance reports are scheduled for release in spring 2015.
To ensure records and weighted factor scores are accurately calculated, Airmen should review their records in the Personnel Records Display Application, accessible via the myPers website.
When reviewing records, Airmen should ensure their EPRs, decorations, control AFSC, total active federal military service date, and date of rank are accurate on their data verification record and that all decorations and EPRs are reflected correctly in PRDA.
For more information about the two-phase master sergeant promotion process and enlisted evaluations and promotions changes, visit the myPers website.