FITNESS REPORTS

Fitness Reports

• Single most important personnel management tool - impacts all personnel decisions.

• Performance documentation from entry to separation - continuity.

• Performance is everything! Make the best of every situation.

• Boards select based on the written record - the written record IS the individual.

Fitness Reports Narratives

• Do not write a job description in block 41- already in block 29.– State performance with outcomes and metrics.– Does the narrative match the grades?– Is there a written promotion recommendation?

• If you have questions/concerns regarding your FITREP, discuss with reporting senior before signing.

Fitness Reports Narratives

• Reporting Seniors must clarify marks/also break out MP and P officers if large groups.– Forced distribution. “My #1 MP, would have been EP but ranked

against highly competitive senior officers”.– “My #1 LCDR out of 25 of all designators”– Headquarters commands—large pool of “stars”—comments

especially important.

• Reporting Seniors should clarify any “blanket command policies regarding ranking” in the narrative (i.e. newly promoted officers do not receive “EP” rankings).

Fitness Reports Sample Narrative Format

• Short opening statement – Breakout!– #3 of 15 LCDRs regardless of designator (esp. if 1/1

billet)– “If not for forced distribution and being junior LT…”

White space

• Several bullets with most important listed first– Cause and effect (impact) bullets

White space

• Closing statement with promotion recommendation.– Command recommendation if up for CAPT.– Statement is critical when serving in 1/1 assignment.

EP marking is not a stand alone if the narrative is weak/marginal.

Fitness Reports Other Important Blocks

• Block 29: 14 character/space primary job abbreviation—use your leadership role, e.g., Director, DH, etc. rather than specialty. – Include job scope - # of people supervised, budget

oversight if applicable (optional for operational billets).

• Block 40: Don’t leave blank! Milestones should be consistent with rank and specialty. Be realistic—don’t recommend a brand new O-4 for MTF CO.

Fitness Reports

• Don’t repeat bullets from previous fitness reports—each FITREP should present new material. If each FITREP sounds the same during a tour, it doesn’t show growth and development—can be a negative factor.

• Be smart and know the BUPERSINST 1610.10A—don’t depend on others to know it. It is your career, manage it.

Fitness Reports

Detailer perspective when reviewing Failure to Select (FOS) Fitness Reports:

- Narratives - not written for impact, too technical, job descriptions rather than performance, no demonstrated growth or increasing responsibility, no further job/promotion recommendations, stock comments or phases—not meaningful comments, and too much repetition from report to report.

- Did not break out from the pack either in EP or MP ratings or in the narrative.

- Accomplishments/contributions as a Naval officer, MSC officer, and a professional--must be addressed in the narrative.

Fitness Reports Summary

• Performance, performance, performance!• Diversity of assignments and responsibilities.• Remember – no specialty-specific jargon…write so

ALL board members will understand• Write cause and effect bullets

– Not just a list of what you did; emphasize IMPORTANCE of accomplishments

• Lastly, do spell check—sounds like a no-brainer but it happens and it reflects poorly on both the command and the officer………