Leadership conducts first-ever 48th FW EFDP Published Feb. 3, 2016 By Staff Reports 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- Wing leadership conducted the wing's first-ever Enlisted Forced Distribution Panel Jan. 27, to determine promotion recommendations for eligible technical sergeants. On the enlisted performance report, the top two promotion recommendations an Airman can earn are "Promote Now" and "Must Promote." A "Promote Now" is worth a maximum of 250 points toward an Airman's overall promotion score, while a "Must Promote" is worth a maximum of 220, if these are the first enlisted performance report to be considered for promotion. Forced distribution dictates how many of these high marks a commander is authorized to give to promotion-eligible Airmen, based on time-in-grade and time-in-service. Those promotion recommendation quotas are based on the total number of eligible Airmen a commander has during that specific grade's static closeout date. For technical sergeants, the top 5 percent of Airmen can be recommended for a "Promote Now" and the top 15 percent can be recommended for the "Must Promote" recommendation. Units with less than 11 promotion-eligible Airmen are considered small units. Those unit commanders can submit their eligible members to meet the EFDP, to compete for the top-tier allocations, which gives an Airman a distinct advantage for promotion. Commanders who submitted members for these recommendations participated as members of the panel. Col. Robert Novotny, 48th Fighter Wing commander, served as the EFDP president. After taking an oath, panel members reviewed records to make a fair assessment of a member's performance and leadership abilities, to ultimately determine which Airmen would receive a "Promote Now" or "Must Promote." "This process that we're using will make sure the right Airmen are appropriately recommended," said Chief Master Sgt. David O'Hara, 48th Fighter Wing command chief and EFDP panel advisor. "It's so important, that the Air Force feels that a higher level of leadership is needed to make that decision. The toughest part will be selecting the top few out of these already phenomenal Airmen." Airmen submitted to the panel who did not receive a "Promote Now" or "Must Promote," will receive a "Promote" recommendation, which is worth 200 points toward their promotion score if it is the only promotion eligible enlisted performance report. The rest of an Airman's promotion score is made up of their Promotion Fitness Examination and Specialty Knowledge Test scores, time-in-grade and time-in-service points, and decoration points. "It is critical that members monitor their records to ensure their information is up to date and accurate; as these documents communicate your performance and potential to serve in the next higher grade," said Capt. Maria Berardo, 48th Force Support Squadron Manpower and Personnel Flight commander and EFDP administrative assistant. "Members should continue to perform their duties to the best of their abilities and reach out to the Military Personnel Section or Commander's Support Staff for questions or assistance with their records." The EFDP is being implemented Air Force-wide in conjunction with the updated EPR system.