New performance feedback program tested at Hanscom Published Feb. 22, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Foster 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. -- Air Force officials are field testing a new performance feedback worksheet to assess how supervisors interact and provide feedback to their Airmen, and Hanscom has been chosen as a test site. The Airman Comprehensive Assessment worksheet is designed to increase supervisor awareness of activities affecting their Airmen and to better facilitate interaction between Airmen and their supervisors. "Feedback should be a private, formal communication between the rater and ratee to communicate responsibility, accountability, the Airman's role in supporting the mission, individual readiness and performance expectations, as well as how to reach those expectations for achieving success," said Stephan Tupeck, Manpower and Personnel Flight chief. "It's also intended to provide the Airman an opportunity to discuss their personal and professional goals." According to an Air Force article, the first phase of field testing began Feb. 3 at 18 active duty Air Force bases worldwide and one Air Reserve base. Airmen at selected bases are using the ACA worksheet during the February through June 2012 test window when their normal initial or mid-term feedback is performed. Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Call, Electronic Systems Center command chief, said Hanscom is quite fortunate to be chosen as one of the test bases. "The new feedback tools will enhance our Wingman culture and bolster the resiliency of Airmen," he said. "The new feedback forms provide a more structured two-way feedback approach where the ratee must first self-assess their performance prior to their supervisor providing constructive feedback." The ACA worksheet has legacy blocks for physical fitness, training and teamwork, but also takes into account the critical role Airmen have in supporting the mission as well as focusing on individual deployment readiness and the Airman's personal and professional goals. "The new tool will focus in on whether Airmen are living our Air Force core values and leading a healthy lifestyle according to the four wellness pillars of Comprehensive Airman Fitness: physical, social, mental and spiritual," Call said. Similar to the current feedback worksheet, there is a block for supervisors to communicate expectations, strengths and weaknesses, and make improvement recommendations, officials said. Airmen at the test bases will receive an electronic notification with additional information on where to retrieve the test forms and instructions. "The new feedback process should open better dialogue between the ratee and their supervisor, not only talking about performance and expectations, but discussing what stressors there are in a person's life and how to reduce them and help Airmen become more resilient," Tupeck said. As part of the ACA test, supervisors and Airmen will receive a survey within 30 days of their feedback session to determine if the ACA worksheet should be implemented Air Force-wide and any improvement recommendations to the process. For information about Air Force Personnel programs, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.