AMC chief talks Airmen EPRs and the future force

Published Sept. 27, 2013
By Senior Airman Michael Ellis
6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Chief Master Sgt. Richard A. "Andy" Kaiser, Air Mobility Command command chief, spoke to more than 500 Airmen Sept. 26 here about enlisted performance reports and the weighted airman's promotion system.

Kaiser explained exaggerated EPRs hurt the individual, those who are truly among the best are not being properly recognized; and the Air Force also suffers as an organization, when sometimes the most deserving are not filling leadership roles.

Despite the efforts to minimize EPR inflations, statistics shows 85 percent of performance reports are fives; 10 percent are fours; and the remaining five percent are ones through threes, Kaiser said.

Command chiefs around the Air Force submitted suggestions for improvement to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody in April, but for now Kaiser said EPRs typically don't have much bearing on WAPS testing.

"The highest points possible for EPRs in regards to testing is 135. If you look at the average points between selectee and non-selectee, normally it only varies roughly one to two points," said Kaiser.

Whenever an individual is slated to test for promotion the best advice supervisors give is to study, said Kaiser. "Maybe in the future, promotions will be based more on performance than test taking abilities."

Kaiser commended MacDill's enlisted force for what they "do here, around the world and in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility (CENTCOM is headquarters on MacDill)."

After having the opportunity to tour the base and meet with various Airmen, Kaiser stated he was a "recipient of inspiration."