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OVERVIEW. Importance of Effective Bullets What is a Bullet Statement? Writing Effective Bullets Examples. Importance of Effective Bullets. Impact on Careers Primary Use. Impact on Careers. Quarterly/Annual Awards Performance Reports EPRs, OPRs, Civilian Rating of Records - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
OVERVIEWOVERVIEW1.1. Importance of Effective Importance of Effective
BulletsBullets
2.2. What is a Bullet Statement?What is a Bullet Statement?
3.3. Writing Effective Bullets Writing Effective Bullets
4.4. ExamplesExamples
Importance of Importance of Effective BulletsEffective Bullets
Impact on Impact on Careers Careers
Primary Primary UseUse
Impact on CareersImpact on Careers
Quarterly/Annual AwardsQuarterly/Annual Awards
Performance ReportsPerformance Reports EPRs, OPRs, Civilian Rating of RecordsEPRs, OPRs, Civilian Rating of Records
Regular Promotions Regular Promotions
Early Promotions--STEP/BTZEarly Promotions--STEP/BTZ
Meaningful DecorationsMeaningful Decorations
Primary UsePrimary Use
You…during trainingYou…during training
You…for your OPRYou…for your OPR
You…as a supervisorYou…as a supervisor
Others in the EPR/OPR/CRR Others in the EPR/OPR/CRR writing processwriting process
What is a Bullet What is a Bullet Statement?Statement? Definition: “bullet”Definition: “bullet”
Elements of an A-I Bullet Elements of an A-I Bullet
ExampleExample
Definition: “BulletDefinition: “Bullet””
Brief “bottom line” of an idea Brief “bottom line” of an idea Talking papersTalking papers
Accomplishment (action) + impact Accomplishment (action) + impact EPRs, OPRs, CRRsEPRs, OPRs, CRRs Award packages (Form 1206)Award packages (Form 1206)
Note: Bullet statements are usually descriptive phrases
Single idea bullet
Accomplishment-impact bullet
Elements of an A-I BulletElements of an A-I BulletAccomplishmentAccomplishment:: (1 (1stst element) element)
What did the person do? What did the person do?
(performance, leadership, & mgmt)(performance, leadership, & mgmt) How well did the person do it?How well did the person do it? What was the result?What was the result?
(resources, effectiveness, efficiency)(resources, effectiveness, efficiency)
Ex:Ex:
- Restored 40 damaged/missing elements on six antennas in three days using decommissioned parts; saved $3479
2 Elements of an A-I Bullet2 Elements of an A-I Bullet
ImpactImpact:: (2 (2ndnd element) element)
What level was impacted?What level was impacted? (unit, wing, base, AF)(unit, wing, base, AF)
Why was accomplishment important? Why was accomplishment important?
Ex: Ex: -- Sharply improved voice clarity for 30 Atlantic
Gateway Antenna System operators covering US and Europe
Ex: Complete A-I BulletEx: Complete A-I BulletTakes 2 lines on an EPR/OPR form; minimal white space.
- Restored 40 damaged/missing elements on 6 antennas in three days using decommissioned parts; saved $3479 -- Sharply improved voice clarity of 30 Atlantic Gateway Antenna System operators covering US and Europe
What did the person do? What did the person do? How well did the person do it?How well did the person do it? What was the result?What was the result? What level was impacted?What level was impacted? Why was accomplishment important? So What?Why was accomplishment important? So What?
Each bullet must answer these
questions!
Ex:
Writing Effective Writing Effective BulletsBullets
1.1. DocumentationDocumentation
2.2. FormatFormat
3.3. Writing Tips Writing Tips
4.4. Special BulletsSpecial Bullets
DocumentationDocumentation Keep a daily record of duties Keep a daily record of duties Keep a daily record of additional Keep a daily record of additional
dutiesduties Keep letters, e-mails, or comments Keep letters, e-mails, or comments
of recognition or appreciationof recognition or appreciation Keep record of completed training Keep record of completed training
or educationor education Keep a record of any voluntary Keep a record of any voluntary
service to military or community service to military or community Crunch the numbers (# produced, Crunch the numbers (# produced,
#hrs saved, $ saved, # people #hrs saved, $ saved, # people involved)involved)
FormatFormat
1 – 3 lines1 – 3 lines
Sub-bullets describe Sub-bullets describe impact, result, or scopeimpact, result, or scope
Minimize “white space” Minimize “white space” (but don’t fill with fluff!)(but don’t fill with fluff!)
Avoid carrying a few Avoid carrying a few words to next line—Don’t words to next line—Don’t waste space…waste space…
Size/Length of BulletsSize/Length of Bullets
- XXX XXX XXXXX XXX XXXX
-- XXX XXX XXX XXX XXXXX
-- XXXXXXXXX XXXXX XXX
- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
-- AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
- YYY YYYYY YYY YYY
- ZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ ZZZZZ
- VVVV VVV VVVV VVVVVV
VVVV
FormatFormat Bullets don’t have periods “.”Bullets don’t have periods “.” Use “!” sparinglyUse “!” sparingly
Avoid: articles--Avoid: articles--aa, , anan, , ththe e conjunctions--conjunctions--andand, , butbut, , oror
pronouns--pronouns--hehe, , sheshe, , himhim, , herher
Avoid: negative words--Avoid: negative words--isn’t, can’tisn’t, can’t
To indicate a pause, use: To indicate a pause, use:
double dash (--) ellipsis (…) semicolon (;)double dash (--) ellipsis (…) semicolon (;)
Writing TipsWriting Tips Start with a strong, fact-filled Start with a strong, fact-filled
statementstatement
Use “hard-hitting” facts, actions, & Use “hard-hitting” facts, actions, & phrasesphrases
Be enthusiastic; make your writing Be enthusiastic; make your writing come alive!come alive!
Look at other EPRs/OPRs/CRRs for Look at other EPRs/OPRs/CRRs for
same position same position
Writing TipsWriting Tips Use common termsUse common terms
Avoid job-specific Avoid job-specific jargonjargon
Validate with comments Validate with comments from outside agencies from outside agencies (HQ USAF, MAJCOM, (HQ USAF, MAJCOM, Wing, etc.)Wing, etc.)
Use verbs, adverbs & adjectives Use verbs, adverbs & adjectives with...with...Use verbs, adverbs & adjectives Use verbs, adverbs & adjectives with...with...
Writing TipsWriting Tips
Verbs withVerbs with Verbs withVerbs with
Revamped, rescuedRevamped, rescued
Pioneered, initiatedPioneered, initiated
Created, built, conceivedCreated, built, conceived
Spearheaded, pilotedSpearheaded, piloted
Recaptured, recoupedRecaptured, recouped
Captured, garneredCaptured, garnered
Briefed, presented, delivered Briefed, presented, delivered (a speech)(a speech)
Instead of ...Instead of ... Say ...Say ...Improved………….
Started……………
Made………………
Led………………..
Saved ($)…………
Received (award)..
Spoke ……………..
Writing TipsWriting Tips
Verbs withVerbs withUseUse activeactive voice -- not voice -- not passivepassive
““smooth transition smooth transition waswas achieved” achieved” ““achieved smooth transition”achieved smooth transition”
“ “patient’s life patient’s life waswas saved” saved” ““saved patient’s life”saved patient’s life”
“ “10 students 10 students werewere taught” taught” “ “educated 10 studentseducated 10 students””
Writing TipsWriting Tips
Adverbs with Adverbs with - explain how a task was accomplished
- use only if it truly adds value to the verb
enthusiastically proactively
expertly shrewdly
independently single-handedly
strategically flawlessly
meticulously selflessly
Writing TipsWriting Tips
Adjectives withAdjectives with - use only if they add value- use only if they add value
- use to describe the worker- use to describe the worker
dynamic dynamic talentedtalented visionaryvisionary
decisivedecisive motivated motivated inspirationalinspirational
versatileversatile proactiveproactive dynamicdynamic
high-outputhigh-output expedientexpedient expertexpert
inexhaustible inexhaustible
Writing TipsWriting Tips
Lead-ins withLead-ins with - Use sparingly; takes up space
- Followed with a fact or accomplishment Hard charger “Go to” person
Leader of the pack Pacesetter
Point-person Shining star
Quality champion Community advocate
Visionary Trailblazer
Writing TipsWriting Tips
Last bulletLast bullet in rating section recommends: in rating section recommends: Promotion (enlisted) Promotion (enlisted) PME (officer)PME (officer)
StratificationStratification:: Use to rank top personnelUse to rank top personnel Sets individual above his/her peers Sets individual above his/her peers Common phrases: Common phrases: top x%, my #1, my best, hard-hitting, top x%, my #1, my best, hard-hitting,
enthusiastic, strongenthusiastic, strong
Ex: - #2 of 312 CGOs in 90 SW
- Top 1% of captains in 20 AF
Special BulletsSpecial Bullets
4a. Example4a. Example - - Piloted annual Combined Federal Piloted annual Combined Federal
Campaign Campaign -- Contacted 100% of personnel in 5 days -- Contacted 100% of personnel in 5 days
and reached 14% of monetary goaland reached 14% of monetary goal
Good What did the person do? What did the person do?
How well did the person do it?How well did the person do it? What was the result?What was the result? What level was impacted? What level was impacted? Why was accomplishment important? So What?Why was accomplishment important? So What?
4b. Example4b. Example - Created an ISD reference library - Created an ISD reference library
-- provided a ready source of -- provided a ready source of
information for all element information for all element
membersmembers
Good and PoorGood and Poor What did the person do? GoodWhat did the person do? Good How well did the person do it? So-soHow well did the person do it? So-so What was the result? So-soWhat was the result? So-so What level was impacted? Yes, not impressive What level was impacted? Yes, not impressive Why was accomplishment important? So What? Why was accomplishment important? So What?
4c. Example4c. Example Last Bullet from Senior Rater: Last Bullet from Senior Rater:
- - Extraordinary leader Extraordinary leader achieves achieves
unparalleled results; SOS in unparalleled results; SOS in
residence at first residence at first opportunityopportunity
Great
Stratification from commander for promotion and officer PME. Perfect for last bullet.
4d. Example4d. Example
- - Requires constant Requires constant supervision; supervision;
sets low personal standards sets low personal standards
and then consistently fails to and then consistently fails to
achieve themachieve them Poor
SUMMARYSUMMARY1.1. Importance of Effective Importance of Effective
BulletsBullets
2.2. What is a Bullet Statement?What is a Bullet Statement?
3.3. Writing Effective Bullets Writing Effective Bullets
4.4. ExercisesExercises
Remember, in the highly competitive promotion Remember, in the highly competitive promotion arena, arena, written communicationwritten communication is the only tool we is the only tool we have.have.
Gen Eugene Habiger (Ret)CINC, US Strategic Command