Air Force Evaluation Appeal

December 21, 2025

This Article discusses how to submit an Air Force Evaluation Appeal. It covers how to appeal an Enlisted Performance Brief (EPB), Enlisted Performance Report (EPR), Officer Performance Brief (OPB), and Officer Performance Report (OPR). The governing regulation is AFI36-2406, Chapter 10, available for download at this link.

An Air Force Evaluation Appeal should first be submitted to the Evaluation Reports Appeal Board (ERAB). If the ERAB denies the appeal, the Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records (AFBCMR) can be applied to using a DD Form 149. A Servicemember can only apply to the AFBCMR using a DD Form 149 after first applying to the ERAB, unless more than 3 years have passed from the date of the evaluation. Personal appearances in front of the ERAB are not allowed, so Servicemembers must submit a robust written appeal. The ERAB, or the AFBCMR, have the ability to completely void an evaluation, or make any appropriate modification. An Air Force Evaluation Appeal can be submitted to the ERAB electronically using vMPR/myEval. Appeals must be submitted within 3 years of the date of the evaluation; however, the AFBCMR will make exceptions to this for good cause.

An EPB/EPR/OPB/OPR appeal must clearly and concisely state what relief the applicant wants and the applicant must provide "clear and credible" evidence to support the application. This evidence could include statements with dates and signatures, photos, videos, emails, legal arguments, subsequent findings of a court or other similar adjudications, etc.

Common grounds for an Air Force Evaluation Appeal include:

Comments inconsistent with assigned ratings;
Comments included on an evaluation not proven by a preponderance of the evidence;
Deviation from DAF evaluation policy in effect at the time of the evaluation;
Personality conflict with rater/senior rater;
Coercion by superiors that affects the evaluation;
Undue emphasis on isolated incidents;
Discrimination or unfair treatment;
Personal opinions and unsupported allegations;
Lack of observation/supervision by rater/senior rater;
Improper rater/senior rater; and,
Forged signature by rater/senior rater

While not required, an EPR/EPB/OPR/OPB appeal should include support from the rater/senior rater of the evaluation, or the Servicemember's current chain of command. Any Servicemember considering appealing an evaluation should provide the rater/senior rater/chain of command with his/her written appeal, with supporting evidence, and ask for support. The ERAB and AFBCMR gives this support/lack of support a great deal of weight.

If an Air Force Evaluation Appeal is granted, a Special Selection Board can be appointed (if requested), if a previous promotion board considered the evaluation in question, resulting in non-promotion.

If a Servicemember is considering appealing an EPR/EPB/OPR/OPB, he/she should consult an experienced Military Lawyer. The applicant has the burden of proof to show an injustice, so it is challenging to win an Air Force Evaluation Appeal. While ADCs are available to assist, they are often inexperienced, over-worked, and unwilling/unable to do the work required to win. A civilian Military Lawyer can be retained, which allows a Servicemember to be represented by a proven lawyer with good former client reviews.

This Article was written by Attorney Matthew Barry. Attorney Barry is highly rated by former clients and has a proven track record of success. He has won numerous appeals to the ERAB and the AFBCMR.

The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents Servicemembers worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S.