Are you missing any body parts?

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Joe Lavigne
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Command Chief
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFPN) --  The other day I had an interesting conversation about drastically changing the Enlisted Performance Report system. Someone suggested we totally do away with the numeric-based program, and even do away with writing all the flowery bullets to make sure the form is completely filled.

Instead, the form would simply be a drawing of a stick figure. Really simple. There would be room to draw two legs, a torso, two arms and a head. If, at the end of your rating period, your rater and the rater's rater felt you portrayed the "whole person" concept, they would draw a complete stick figure, and when you became eligible, you'd be able to take your promotion tests and compete for your next stripe.

If your picture wasn't complete, you simply wouldn't test. That would save you a lot of time studying, only to become frustrated when you weren't on the promotion list.

So exactly how would your rater decide what kind of person you are? Easy. As you know, the legs provide the basis for movement. One leg would represent your technical competence. If you had completed your necessary upgrade training, had been certified on all your core tasks and had mastered your trade, that leg would be drawn.

The other leg would represent your mastery of overall Air Force knowledge. Have you completed the appropriate levels of Professional Military Education? Have you read any of the books on the Chief of Staff's or Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force's professional reading list? Have you attended any voluntary professional development seminars? If so, that leg would also be drawn.

Let's move up to the torso. Here you'd be evaluated on how well you maintain standards. Do you look sharp in your uniform? Are you presenting a proper military image? Do you participate in a personal fitness program? Do you follow the instructions you need to safely and effectively accomplish the mission? Do you ensure your subordinates meet the standards as well?

To draw your left arm, your rater must be able to honestly say you are actively supporting your unit and the base. Are you out there helping your unit advisory council improve your squadron? Do you occasionally pitch in some off-duty time to help with your booster club's efforts? What about being an "active" member in one or more professional organizations or one of the benevolent organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for our troops? Remember, being active doesn't simply mean paying your dues and hanging around waiting for your going-away gift when you move, separate or retire.

The right arm is simple. Are you taking part in any community activities? The possibilities here are endless: youth groups, helping the aging, church groups, schools, support for community events.

Finally, the head must be drawn to signify your pursuit of a well-rounded education. Are you taking advantage of the programs offered by the Community College of the Air Force? If you've already received that degree, are you working toward a bachelor's, or perhaps a professional certification? You need to understand and accept the fact that today's enlisted corps is becoming more and more highly educated than at any other time in the history of the Air Force. If you're not pursuing your education, you're behind your peers, plain and simple.

Will we ever adopt this form of evaluation system? You never know. If we do, will you be a complete person or will you have some missing body parts? The choice is yours.

By the way, this whole person concept isn't anything new. It's clearly outlined in Air Force Instruction 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure. We've been using the whole-person concept as a yardstick to measure people for years. Be it a "Stripes for Exceptional Performance" promotion, selecting annual award winners, or picking our next batch of senior and chief master sergeants, the picture needs to be complete.

Why not take a few minutes to draw a picture of yourself? Or, ask your boss to. If you find you're missing some body parts, take action now. You'll be glad you did! (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service)