How to Write a FITREP

Directions for Chiefs Evaluation & Counseling Form


The Introduction

The goal of the FitRep is to accurately and completely describe a Sailor's performance. And that can't be done by simply creating a laundry list of achievements. Listing noteworthy accomplishments does provide some insight into a manager's abilities but it doesn't provide the whole picture. Merely listing achievements doesn't give any indication as to what kind of leader or supervisor the person might be. A Seaman might have the best accomplishments in the fleet but be an unbearable pain in the ass and impossible to work with. He or she might be the best at fixing a broken radio but the absolute worst at sharing experience or getting along with others. And those social qualities are equally as important as a person's technical skills. So, in addition to describing a person's professional and technical skills, we need a way to inform the report's reader on the subject's social skills, his integrity, his character, his loyalty and other qualities which are not apparent when merely reading a list of accomplishments. The introduction, the first two or three lines in the Comments on Performance block, is where this is done. These are the only lines where descriptive, subjective terms and adjectives are tolerated and even encouraged.

Use these two or three lines to describe aspects of character that can't be deduced from a list of achievements. Examples are dependability, loyalty, timeliness, enthusiasm, ability to lead and get along with peers and subordinates, etc.


  1. Introduction: two or three lines for the rater to describe the ratee's performance and character.
  2. The introduction should describe character aspects not readily apparent from accomplishments.
  3. accomplishment
  4. accomplishment
  5. accomplishment
  6. accomplishment
  7. accomplishment
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  16. accomplishment
  17. accomplishment/Summary
  18. Summary: one or two lines for the rater to summarize the ratee's performance and make a promotion statement.


Introduction Statement Examples:

A superior Chief Petty Officer with can-do attitude; always willing to take on more challenging tasks with
greater responsibility. Earnest, loyal, and reliable, promote to Senior Chief ahead of peers!

Outstanding and welcome addition to my CPO mess. In just 3 months he has made a huge impact on the
CPO mess throughout DISA-EUR. Not ranked higher solely due to time onboard. Ready for advancement!

SUPERB CHIEF PETTY OFFICER! Hands-down my number one Chief Petty Officer in the mess!
Energetic, dedicated leader whose performance always exceeds my highest expectations.


More Navy Fitrep introduction examples.


How should you describe the ratee's performance? Give this some serious thought because the ratee's career depends on it. Think about what this person means to you. Try to remember how his or her presence influenced your workcenter. What was it like before he or she arrived? Have things improved? What facets of his or her personality stand out the most clearly? When you have it, summarize that quality in a couple of well-chosen adjectives and then describe the positive results of that quality.

Many units insist on stratification statements for senior personnel. Stratification is a word meaning to describe a person's performance compared to their peers. The unit wants us to document exactly how the ratee compares to his co-workers of equal rank in the workcenter. Traditionally this is done within the first line. When you consider that you have to somehow satisfy this stratification requirement in addition to summarizing a person's character --all in two or three short lines --you realize that the rater has to be some kind of warrior poet.


Stratification Examples:

Of course, this begs the question: Who is number two? Somebody has to be number two (or three or four) but I rarely see a number two stratification. In order to honestly capture that coveted #1 position, the rater may need to confine the ratee to a particular subset. For example, #1 of new assignees! Or #1 of Sailors in qualification training! Or #1 of left-handed Chevy owners! But seriously, being number two, in many instances, is still an achievement.

Format. It's OK to capitalize entire words and even phrases but use capitalization sparingly. Reserve its use for when you truly need to emphasize something. It's OK to capitalize part of the introduction, as in, "MY BEST WATCH OFFICER EVER! PROMOTE NOW!" but you should only do it for your top troops.

In summary, the Introduction is arguably the most important section of the FITREP. It's the portion of the Comments on Performance that are read first and provide the tone for the entire FitRep. It carries the fully qualified opinion of the rater. By leaving out a promotion statement here, the rater is saying that, even though I describe this person in glowing terms, I really don't think he should be put in charge of other people. After the Supervisor has documented his or her assessment of the individual's character, he can go on to support that assessment by listing the subject's sterling achievements.



Examples can be contributed using this form. Thanks!