The Airman Comprehensive Assessment and how to swing it (2024)

At first glance the new feedback form's appearance is quite different. In function though, it deepens the relationship between supervisors and their subordinates. "The performance feedback is the best tool supervisors have in developing Airmen," said Chief Master Sgt. Lizabeth Vanburger, Pacific Air Forces chief of enlisted assignments. "We use feedbacks to communicate our standards and expectations and tell our Airmen how they are doing."

The intention is the same with the ACA, plus it adds a greater emphasis on knowing your people, said Master Sgt. Steven Dracup, Pacific Air Forces military personnel program's superintendent. "At its heart ACA is a communication and assessment tool. As supervisors we look at how well our troops are meeting mission requirements, but we also have a responsibility to mold them into tomorrow's leaders. It's important to give honest feedback about their duty performance, but there's more to it than that. This new feedback process puts the rater-ratee relationship upfront. And through giving and receiving meaningful feedback, we learn how we can better contribute to the mission."

One of the many new additions to the feedback forms is the Airman self-assessment -- which the ratee completes. "Think about this for a second," urges Dracup, "the self-assessment gives you a way to communicate to your rater where you see yourself. As a rater this is a direct line into your Airman's mind. Consider the value of this information; you learn how your folks view their position in the organization. That leads to real, meaningful dialogue about how you contribute to your organization and vice versa."

"ACA adds the Airman's role in the mission as an essential piece of information into the feedback process," said Vanburger. The rater completes the "Airman's Critical Role In Support Of the Mission" area of the feedback form to identify to the ratee how their role is instrumental in the unit's mission.

"I look at the critical role in support of the mission from both a ratee and rater perspective," said Dracup. "As a ratee, there's no doubt in my mind where I fit in or what makes me important in the organization. As the rater, I get a profounder understanding of the people entrusted to my care and how to employ them in the most mission-effective way possible."

In addition to expanded performance and leadership sections, the new feedback forms include segments on the "Whole Airman Concept" and "Knowing Your Airman". Supervisors will use the performance areas when crafting enlisted performance reports or officer performance reports. The "Self-Assessment" and "Knowing Your Airman" sections are built to give supervisors indispensable insight for mentoring their subordinates. The series of questions are meant to kick-start a conversation between the supervisor and their Airman. "If we need help, in our personal of professional lives, the ACA is designed to encourage us to ask for help. And that can't happen unless we talk about it," said Dracup.

ACA is similar to the current performance feedback system, yet different. Feedback is still mandatory for everyone. Rater's should still conduct sessions face-to-face. The frequencies for initial, midterm and end-of-reporting period feedbacks are still the same. Feedback is still considered a formal communication and ratees and raters will still sign the form after they've completed the feedback session.

"What is meant to be different is the state-of-mind when we think about doing a feedback," said Vanburger. "The best way to use the ACA is to view it as an opportunity to connect with and care about the Airmen we supervise. The Air Force has changed drastically over the last few years. We are a leaner force and each of us is influential in accomplishing the mission. As supervisors we have a responsibility to understand our Airman and help them grow as leaders and as individuals. The ACA is how we will build a stronger force for tomorrow."

Plenty of new guidance is available for supervisors on the Air Force Portal in the ACA frequent questions and AFI 36-2406. Additionally, the new feedback forms AF931, AF932 and AF724 are available on the Air Force's e-Publishing website for supervisors wanting to get a closer look at the changes ACA brings July 1st.