Bullets. EPRs (Enlisted Performance Reports) are reports that are required annual to show how we are as an Airmen in the Air Force. It's pretty much a report card but instead of grades in different subjects, we're rated on a scale based on standards (does not meet, meets, above averages and clearly exceeds) in different areas of performance such as our primary duties, teamwork, and self improvement. You would think that writing about what you've done in an 356-day period would be simple. It's like a narrative, right? Nope. You have to write bullet statements. Pretty much they are chopped up sentences with no regard for the proper structure of how a sentence should be written.
I can write. I may not as brilliant as my sister Flo when it comes to stories and such, but I think I can write fairly well. We have letters and memos (most of the time used for punishments) in the Air Force that I can practically write in my sleep. Dan sometimes will call/email me while we're at work for me to send him ones that I've already done so he can use them (unfortunately I've written that many). I have no problems writing narratives and biographies that are sometimes needed for award packages.
Bullets are a totally different story. The main goal is brevity. Short and sweet, you need all of the information in one line. When we write EPRs, the bullet statement is broken down into 2 basic/main parts. The action and impact. Action verbs and adjectives are used a lot to try and give it that extra "wow" factor to a bullet. An example would be something like this:
Dan is a base PTL who leads circuit training sessions weekly. He's helped 500 members on base better their overall fitness.
- Fitness professional; led fitness center weekly circuit training class--500 base members improved their fitness
Can you see the lack of sentence structure there? Brevity, brevity, brevity. Take out anything that makes the line too wordy and make sure the point comes across. When you read the bullet, you should be able to easily identify the action and the impact right away. I suck at writing bullets. Trying to think of the best way to format the bullet stumps me. Should I start it with a strong action verb, can I use a double dash there for the impact, would a "zinger" sound better at the beginning? Oye.
I've got two EPRs that I need to finish yesterday. Yea. I'm over my deadline and my bullet writing block isn't going anywhere. Why couldn't it be a mini essay I needed to write on each airmen about how they've done in the past year?
1 comment:
First, I am not a brilliant writer ;) Trust me. Second, I think that anyone who writes an EPR well is an engineer - and that is not a compliment when it comes to writing. lol B-Trapp writes his OER using a little handbook of synonyms and action words, so one of the funniest things I've ever seen was the day he lost his book. He tore our office apart looking for that little thing, and declared himself useless until he could find it. lol I was like "Honey, it's called the online thesaurus - have some." :P You and he both seem really adept at writing in that shorthand style even if it makes your good writing sensibilities hurt :)
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