Performance Writing Guide
Comprehensive guide to writing effective performance bullets, narratives, and evaluations for all military branches. Includes official resources and best practices.
Air Force EPB Update (2023)
The Air Force transitioned from bullet-style EPRs to paragraph-style EPBs (Enlisted Performance Briefs) in 2023 per DAFI 36-2406. EPBs use 350-character narrative statements organized by 4 Major Performance Areas (MPAs), not compressed bullets with special characters.
FreePB automatically generates the correct format based on your selection.
Quick Reference: Formats by Branch
Character limits and format requirements at a glance
| Branch | Document | Format | Limits | Key Rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Force | EPB/OPB | Narrative | 350 chars/MPA | Complete sentences, plain language |
| Army | NCOER/OER | Bullet | ~125 chars/line | Start with lowercase "o" |
| Navy | EVAL/FITREP | Hybrid | 91 chars/line, 16-18 lines | Opening/closing in CAPS |
| Marines | FITREP | Hybrid | 1,232 chars (Sec C) | ACTION VERBS: in caps |
| Coast Guard | EER/OER | Bullet | 220/550 chars | Gender-neutral (MBR, ROM) |
Official Acronym Resources
Links to official military acronym databases for each branch
Air Force
- AFPC Career Acronyms
- Note: EPBs prefer plain language over acronyms
Coast Guard
Branch-Specific Writing Guides
4 Major Performance Areas (MPAs)
Executing the Mission
Job performance, technical expertise, mission accomplishment
Leading People
Team leadership, mentorship, developing others
Managing Resources
Time, money, equipment, and personnel management
Improving the Unit
Innovation, process improvement, efficiency gains
- • Write complete sentences with proper grammar
- • Use past tense, third person (he/she/they)
- • Use plain language - minimize acronyms
- • Include behavior/action + impact/results
- • Stay within 350 characters per MPA block
- • Focus on specific accomplishments with metrics
- • Use old bullet-style formatting with special characters
- • Use abbreviations like "--" or "/" connectors
- • Write sentence fragments
- • Exceed character limits
- • Use jargon-heavy language
- • List job duties instead of accomplishments
Directed complex maintenance operations on 12 F-16 aircraft during surge operations, identifying and resolving three critical system failures. His technical expertise and calm leadership ensured 100% mission-capable rate, directly enabling 45 combat sorties supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.
Strong Action Verbs by Category
Use these to start your statements with impact
Leadership
Achievement
Innovation
Improvement
Training/Development
Operations
Analysis/Planning
Support
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Pitfalls that weaken performance statements
Writing job descriptions instead of accomplishments
Focus on WHAT you achieved, not what your job required you to do
Missing quantifiable metrics
Include numbers: personnel count, dollar amounts, percentages, timeframes
Vague impact statements
Be specific: "improved readiness" → "increased readiness from 85% to 98%"
Using weak verbs ("was responsible for")
Use strong action verbs: "Led", "Directed", "Spearheaded"
Exceeding character limits
Each branch has specific limits - stay within them or content gets cut
Using wrong format for branch
Air Force uses narratives now; Army uses bullets; know your format
First-person language ("I led...")
Use third-person: "He/She led..." or bullets without subject
Spelling/grammar errors
Proofread carefully - errors suggest carelessness to boards
Pro Tips for All Branches
Write for the Board
Selection boards read thousands of reports quickly. Put your best achievements first and make them easy to scan.
Use the STAR Method
Situation, Task, Action, Result - structure each bullet to show context, what you did, and the outcome.
Quantify Everything
Numbers stand out: 45 personnel, $2.1M budget, 98% rate, 12-hour reduction, 3x improvement.
Show Scope of Impact
Connect your action to unit, command, service, or DOD-level impact when possible.
Avoid Acronym Soup
Especially for EPBs - use plain language. Boards may not know your specialty's acronyms.
Keep Records
Maintain a running log of accomplishments throughout the rating period. Don't rely on memory.