Reporting Procedures

At some point in your Air Force career — possibly more than once — you'll be required to formally report to an officer in their office. The reasons range from sitting before a board to a commander's office visit. Reporting properly takes precision movements and clear communication. Like Rendering Courtesies, this is about the first impression you make from the moment you walk in — Excellence In All We Do in practice.

This section is short, but it's a procedure you should be able to execute without thinking about it.

Overview

Objective: Without reference, formally report to an individual in an office, with no more than two instructor assists.

Learning Outcomes

• Identify the basic facts about the purpose for reporting to an officer.
• Recognize the professional qualities needed to make a favorable impression.
• Demonstrate the steps to enter the office, report, and depart in a professional manner.
• Understand that military bearing, self-discipline, and proper procedures will be evaluated.

Foundational Competencies

• Communication — Clearly and effectively articulates and promotes ideas and issues across audiences.
• Decision Making — Makes well-informed, timely decisions; uses sound judgment to weigh constraints, risks, and rewards.
• Precision — A concern for order, quality, and accuracy.

Summary

• Purpose
• Professional Qualities
• Steps to Enter
• Steps to Report
• Steps to Depart
• Military Bearing and Evaluation

Purpose

You use reporting procedures when reporting to an officer. They demonstrate proper respect to the officer and the position they hold. Use them whenever you report to an officer in an office setting, in accordance with AFI 34-1201.

In the Air Force, reporting procedures apply to commissioned officers. The procedures include rendering appropriate courtesies and identifying rank correctly.

Professional Qualities

Reporting properly is your chance to make a favorable and lasting impression — and to demonstrate you have the qualities the Air Force expects of every Airman.

When reporting to an officer, project:

• Respect for authority
• Military bearing and self-discipline
• A positive attitude
• Qualities of followership — commitment, honesty, integrity, adaptability, pride, courage, and versatility

Steps to Enter

Before entering, mentally prepare. Practice the entry procedures in your head and rehearse what you're going to say — including proper terms of address.

Then check yourself:

• Uniform and personal appearance comply with the standards in AFI 36-2903 (Dress and Personal Appearance).
• Items in your left hand so your right hand is free to salute.

When you're ready, knock once, firmly enough to be heard. If there's no answer in a reasonable amount of time, knock again. When told to enter:

• Enter the office and march at attention to the individual's desk.
• Take the most direct route in, using the appropriate facing movements.
• Position yourself approximately two paces from and centered on the desk.

Steps to Report

After you halt at the position of attention, salute and give the reporting statement:

"Sir / Ma'am, Trainee [your last name] reports as ordered."

• Speak clearly, in a conversational tone.
• Give only one reporting statement the first time you speak.
• Once the officer returns your salute, drop your salute and remain standing at attention unless told otherwise.

A note for BMT specifically

Reporting procedures normally apply only to commissioned officers. For training purposes during BMT, you'll use reporting procedures when told to report to your MTI in their flight office. This is the only time you'll report to an NCO using the formal procedure.

Steps to Depart

Stay alert — the officer may dismiss you in various ways. The key is to recognize when the conversation has ended so you can take the appropriate actions.

When dismissed:

1. If you were placed at a rest position, resume the position of attention.
2. Take one step backwards, halting at the position of attention.
3. Salute.
4. Once the officer lowers their salute, drop your salute.
5. After exchanging salutes, execute an about face and exit the office by the most direct route.

Military Bearing and Evaluation

Military bearing is the ability to maintain verbal and physical composure under any circumstance. During the 5th Week of Training (5 WOT), you'll be evaluated on reporting procedures. The instructor will assess your military bearing, self-discipline, and proper execution of the procedure.

Summary

There will come a time when you'll be required to report to an office — for any number of reasons, from a board to the commander. Regardless of the reason, the way you report matters. This section covered the entry, report, and departure steps plus the military bearing expected throughout. You're establishing a first impression of your professionalism — make it a good one.