The Air Force WAPS - Overview
 The
Weighted Airman Promotion System (WAPS)
If you are eligible for promotion, based on TIS/TIG/Skill Level,
and your commander's recommendation, then you will be subject to
the WAPS points system. If you are among those with the most "WAPS
Points" in your AFSC (Air Force Specialty Code) you will get
promoted.
A portion of your WAPS promotion points are derived from the Promomtion
Fitness Examination and the Specialty Knowledge Tests:
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USAF
Enlisted
Promotions Links |
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Promotion Fitness Examination (PFE) - A 100 question test about
Air Force general supervisory subjects like:
Air Force Doctrine
Organization
Military Customs and Courtesies
Standard of Appearance and Conduct
Enlisted History
NCO Leadership
The Enlisted Evaluation System
NCO Management Functions
Enforcing Standards
Personnel Issues and Programs
Full Spectrum Threat Response (FSTR)
Security
Communications
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you are eligible for promotion, based on TIS/TIG/Skill Level,
and your commander's recommendation, then you will be subject
to the WAPS points system.
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Candidates for SNCO promotions must take the USAF Supervisory Examination
(USAFSE). This exam covers topics similar to the PFE but at a higher
level
The Air Force has created a 380 page online PFE
Study Guide and a 128 page USAFSE
Study Guide for Senior NCO candidates.
These guides should provide you with information to cover all the
PFE topics, however the guides have the following warning:
WARNING!!! It is important for you to establish a
SELF-STUDY program that will help you score well. Self-study
is highlighted to emphasize that group study (two or more people)
and training programs specifically designed to prepare for promotion
tests are strictly prohibited by AFI 36-2605, Air Force Military
Personnel Testing System. This prohibition protects the integrity
of the promotion testing program by helping to ensure WAPS test
scores are a reflection of each member’s individual effort.
* The maximum number of PFE points is 100.
Specialty Knowledge Test (SKT) - A 100 question test concerning
your job in the Air Force. Most SKT questions are from the Career
Development Course (CDC) that you will have studied to be awarded
a 5-skill level.
* The maximum number of SKT points is 100.
To accomplish these purposes, the evaluation systems focus on performance.
This reflects the fact that how well you do your job, and the
qualities you bring to the job, are of paramount importance to
the Air Force. Performance is most important for successful mission
accomplishment. It is also important for development of skills
and leadership abilities and in determining who will be selected
for advancement through assignments, promotions, and so on.
Air Force evaluation systems emphasize the importance of performance
in several ways, using periodic performance feedback, as the basis
for formal evaluation reports, and, for officers, through performance-based
promotion recommendations.
5 Steps to Improving Your EPR "SCORE"
Although the Air Force Performance Evaluation system is designed
to observe and report your performance, there are 5 steps you
can take that are virtually guaranteed to improve your evaluations.
Step 1. Start out by reading AIR
FORCE INSTRUCTION 36-2406. Understanding how the process works
is key to making it work for you. Pay particular attention to
appropriate evaluation form for your rank.
Step 2. Communicate. Talk with your evaluator (supervisor)
about your performance report. You should go over the form line
by line to determine their expectations. Ask your evaluator for
their advice on how to improve your EPR and get the highest score
possible.
Step 3. Be Opportunistic. Take every opportunity
you can to demonstrate the level of performance that your evaluator
suggested. Be sure to take the initiative and show that you're
committed to performing at the highest level.
Step 4. Record your personal performance. Keep a
performance diary, noting the times and situations when you demonstrated
the skills, initiative, leadership, and performance your evaluator
suggested.
Step 5. Evaluate yourself. Complete your own evaluation
report including documentation and support information. After
all it is your career, and you are the only one who knows exactly
what you have accomplished during the evaluation period. Submit
your EPR and documentation to your evaluator.
Your evaluator has a rough job, he or she has to monitor you and
your coworkers performance throughout the entire evaluation period.
It is nearly impossible for an evaluator to remember every detail
about your performance. In fact evaluators tend to remember negative
situations more often than the positive ones. By following these
5 steps you will make your evaluators job easier, and when you
make their job easier it can't help but to increase your EPR SCORE.
Performance Report Forms
Use the following AF Forms to report your performance:
910
- Enlisted Performance Report (AB through TSgt)
911
- Senior Enlisted Performance Report (MSgt through CMSgt)
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