GUIDANCE IF YOU ARE FORCED TO GIVE A LOWER GRADE THAN THEY DESERVE

If you must give a lower grade than an individual deserves you must explain to the board that the issue was beyond your control The reporting senior must clearly state that he/she wanted to give the officer a higher grade on his/her FITREP yet were forced into a lower grade due to a specific reason. Examples could include an individual being ranked against senior officers, officers holding more difficult jobs, or a new officer who recently checked into the command.

Would be EP in any other group, however

Forced distribution unfairly restricts accurate recommendation

EP in larger group of all _____ I have worked with

Ranked MP only because he is compared against the XO.

Ranked against three senior Department Heads.

Indistinguishable from my number 1, except for seniority.

Ranked number 2 against very senior competition.

Read this carefully: the rules force me to make him/her an MP, but he is really an an EP. This officer is rated against another officer who, I anticipate, will be promoted. This officer would truly be number one in any other setting.