Many of us struggle to craft impactful bullet comments for our job performances. It can be challenging to find glory in tasks like meeting deadlines or driving a bus every day. However, by understanding the construction of bullet comments and using a reliable algorithm, it becomes evident that strong bullets can be created even from seemingly ordinary performances.
Types of Bullet Comments
To aid in the process of writing effective bullet comments, an extensive analysis was conducted on hundreds of bullets from various operational specialties. After months of examination, three main types of bullet comments were identified:
Achievement
- Conducted over 200 missions into…
- Developed the first-ever SOP that…
- Fielded 22 advanced transport systems…
- Established a successful method for…
- Improved section efficiency by 50%…
Achievement-type bullets have the most impact and should be prioritized in the NCOER. The more specific the accomplishment, the better.
Recognition
- Selected over peers to compete for…
- Commended by Commander for…
- Awarded Army Achievement Medal for…
- Earned a commendable rating during…
- Received Battalion coin for…
Recognition-type bullets may lack specific details regarding the reason for recognition, but they still hold value and importance.
Skill or Character Description
- Displayed outstanding battle staff skills.
- Committed to excellence.
- Demonstrated sound judgment and tactical savvy.
- Delegated effectively.
- Showed resourcefulness and innovation.
While skill or character description bullets may be vague, they are widely accepted in NCOERs.
When constructing bullet comments, it is recommended to focus on achievement-type bullets whenever possible, followed by recognition-type bullets. Skill or character description bullets should be used judiciously.
By understanding these types of bullet comments, you can improve your ability to write strong and impactful bullets for your NCOER.
The Algorithm for Strong Impact Statements
The strength of a bullet comment largely relies on the results or impact it conveys. Through the analysis of numerous bullet comments from various occupational specialties, it has been observed that bullet comments typically express impact in nine ways:
- Achievement of a Quantity: This type of impact statement highlights the significance of a specific quantity achieved, such as the number of missions completed, insurgents captured, miles driven, flights supported, etc.
- Achievement of an Objective: When a named objective is universally recognized as significant, this type of impact statement emphasizes its completion without the need for further explanation. Examples include successful rotations, completed inspections, restored capability, etc.
- Reduction of an Undesirable Condition: This impact statement showcases proactive measures that lead to an improvement in conditions, such as reducing the number of equipment failures, incidents of sniper activity, late reports or awards, duration of tasks, etc.
- Improvement of a Condition: Describing positive changes or enhancements, this impact statement focuses on improved conditions or processes, such as increased readiness, streamlined procedures, enhanced efficiency, etc.
- Prevention of an Undesirable Condition: This type of impact statement highlights proactive actions that avert undesirable outcomes, like surveillance preventing IED use, route analysis preventing threats to personnel, preventive maintenance checks preventing equipment failure, etc.
- Maintenance of Operational Tempo: This impact statement emphasizes the maintenance of a significant and critical achievement, such as sustaining an operational rate of 95%, ensuring readiness, maintaining 100% accuracy, zero errors, etc.
- Comparison to Peers: Primarily used in recognition bullet comments, this approach distinguishes the ratee by highlighting achievements that surpass those of their peers, such as qualifying ahead of others of equal rank, being selected over peers, etc.
- Timeliness: Impact statements related to time emphasize completing tasks ahead of schedule, meeting deadlines, avoiding delays, etc.
- Name Dropping: This impact statement relies on the use of universally recognized and highly significant event names that serve as impactful references without requiring further explanation, such as supporting operations in the Sunni Triangle, being key to the success of a specific operation, completing missions under OPERATION ANVIL TREE, etc.
To determine the most appropriate impact statement for each bullet comment, consider applying each of the nine types listed above. The goal is to identify the impact statement that works best and is most significant for the specific achievement. For example, let’s consider the following comment:
“Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy.”
To determine the most suitable impact statement for this comment, it is necessary to have direct knowledge of the job or achievement. Here are some suggested options:
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, exceeding production norms by 50%.” (Quantity)
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, reducing unnecessary retransmissions by 50%.” (Reduction of an undesirable condition)
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, streamlining procedures and reducing required man-hours.” (Improvement of a condition)
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, saving $10K in TDY costs through teleconferencing.” (Prevention of an undesirable condition)
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, maintaining a 99% operational rate despite 50% of personnel being deployed.” (Maintenance of ops tempo)
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, recognized as the best performer in the section!” (Comparison to peers)
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, achieving the best on-time delivery performance in 5 years.” (Timeliness)
- “Completed over 120 ops reports with 100% accuracy, providing crucial support to the success of OPERATION ANVIL TREE.” (Name dropping)
The choice of the best bullet comment depends on the specific context. If you already have a bullet comment that emphasizes saving the government money, then the comparison to peers might be the most suitable option among the examples mentioned above.
By applying this algorithm and considering the various impact statements, you can enhance the strength and effectiveness of your bullet comments.