AFPC directs changes to evaluations Published Jan. 22, 2013 By Senior Airman Caitlin O'Neil-McKeown 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- U.S. Air Force officials recently updated Air Force Instruction 36-2406, Officer and Enlisted Evaluation Systems. The changes were directed by the Air Force Personnel Center headquarters and went into effect Jan. 2. While most of the program remains unchanged, there are important updates Airmen of all ranks should be aware of. One important change involves ratee and rater separation. Previously, if a rater and a supervised Airman were separated for 30 consecutive days or more in a given rating period, those days would be removed from the supervision time. This sometimes resulted in reports that were closed out well over 12 months since the previous report. This provision has been removed, and supervisors cannot deduct any period of supervision during the rating period. Another change to the AFI reduces the rebuttal time of a referral evaluation from 10-to-three duty days. This is not the only change regarding referral evaluations; referral reports can no longer close out with an overall five rating. They must close out with an overall rating of four or less, but variations may apply at times. "These changes incorporate numerous revised policies and procedural changes involving performance feedback and evaluation reports that have been implemented since the last revision," said Master Sgt. Ruby Corpuz, 786th Force Support Squadron superintendent of force management. "The importance is to clarify existing policies and procedures, to include procedures for the electronic form and digital signatures." "There are exceptions to certain rules and, depending on the circumstances, they will be judged on a case-by-case basis," Corpuz added. Airmen in the rank of master sergeant and above, including officers, now have 15 days after a civilian conviction to report it to their first-line supervision. "The new AFI 36-2406 revisions do not significantly change current evaluation procedures," said Corpuz. "(However), those responsible for reviewing reports are strongly recommended to take some time to read and understand the changes." AIrmen with questions about officer and enlisted evaluations should contact their local Military Personnel Flight.