The Air Force Form 813, also known as the "Performance Feedback Worksheet," is a crucial document used by the United States Air Force to evaluate the performance of its personnel. Filling out this form correctly is essential for providing accurate and effective feedback that can impact an individual's career advancement and professional development. In this article, we will explore five ways to fill out AF Form 813, ensuring that you provide constructive and helpful feedback.
Understanding the AF Form 813
Before we dive into the ways to fill out the form, it's essential to understand its purpose and structure. The AF Form 813 is used to evaluate an individual's performance, identifying areas of strength and weakness, and providing recommendations for improvement. The form is typically completed by a supervisor or rating official and is used to support performance evaluations, promotions, and other personnel actions.
Section 1: Performance Evaluation
The first section of the AF Form 813 is dedicated to evaluating the individual's performance. This section includes several rating scales and narrative sections where the rater can provide feedback on the individual's job performance, leadership skills, and other relevant areas.
- When completing this section, focus on providing specific examples and anecdotes to support your ratings.
- Use the rating scales to evaluate the individual's performance, and provide a clear and concise narrative summary of their strengths and weaknesses.
- Be sure to address all areas of performance, including job-specific skills, leadership, and teamwork.
5 Ways to Fill Out AF Form 813
Now that we have a better understanding of the AF Form 813, let's explore five ways to fill it out effectively:
1. Be Specific and Objective
When filling out the AF Form 813, it's essential to be specific and objective in your feedback. Avoid using vague or general statements, and instead, focus on providing concrete examples and anecdotes to support your ratings.
- Use specific language to describe the individual's performance, such as "consistently exceeded expectations" or "demonstrated significant improvement."
- Avoid using subjective language or personal opinions, and instead, focus on objective evaluations of the individual's performance.
2. Focus on Behavior, Not Personality
When evaluating an individual's performance, it's essential to focus on their behavior and job-specific skills, rather than their personality or personal characteristics.
- Use behavioral language to describe the individual's performance, such as "demonstrated excellent communication skills" or "consistently met deadlines."
- Avoid making personal attacks or criticisms, and instead, focus on providing constructive feedback that can help the individual improve.
3. Use the STAR Method
The STAR method is a helpful framework for providing specific and objective feedback. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result, and can be used to structure your feedback in a clear and concise manner.
- Use the STAR method to provide specific examples of the individual's performance, such as "In the situation where we were tasked with completing a project on short notice, the individual took the action of working closely with the team to prioritize tasks and meet the deadline, resulting in a successful project outcome."
- The STAR method can help you provide clear and concise feedback that is easy to understand and act on.
4. Provide Recommendations for Improvement
The AF Form 813 is not just a tool for evaluating performance, but also for providing recommendations for improvement. When filling out the form, be sure to provide specific and actionable recommendations that can help the individual improve their performance.
- Use the feedback you provided in the previous sections to inform your recommendations for improvement.
- Provide clear and specific recommendations, such as "take a course to improve communication skills" or "seek out additional training to improve job-specific skills."
5. Review and Edit Carefully
Finally, it's essential to review and edit the AF Form 813 carefully before submitting it. This will help ensure that your feedback is accurate, clear, and effective.
- Take the time to review the form carefully, checking for spelling and grammar errors, as well as ensuring that your feedback is specific, objective, and actionable.
- Edit the form as needed, making sure that your feedback is clear and concise.
Conclusion
Filling out the AF Form 813 requires careful attention to detail and a commitment to providing specific, objective, and actionable feedback. By following the five ways outlined in this article, you can ensure that your feedback is effective and helpful, supporting the individual's professional development and career advancement. Remember to be specific and objective, focus on behavior, use the STAR method, provide recommendations for improvement, and review and edit carefully.
What is the purpose of the AF Form 813?
+The AF Form 813 is used to evaluate an individual's performance, identifying areas of strength and weakness, and providing recommendations for improvement.
How often should the AF Form 813 be completed?
+The AF Form 813 should be completed at least annually, or as required by the individual's supervisor or rating official.
Can the AF Form 813 be used for promotions?
+Yes, the AF Form 813 can be used to support promotions, as well as other personnel actions such as performance evaluations and awards.