Gain a Space Within a 1206 or EPR Bullet

(Updated: 30 December 2020, with ability to copy spaces at the end)

Sometimes, when working on an awards package or evaluation, you just need one more space to fit a word that will make a bullet come together…well my awesome admin taught me there is a way to make this happen that feels like magic. In fact, one of my friends asked me if this was some “Swordfish hacker voodoo”.

Typically, this calls for an overhaul of the bullet to try and get that extra space. However, there is an easy fix.

1.  Open Microsoft Word or a new email in Outlook.

2.  Type “2009”

3.  Highlight “2009”, and press “Alt” and “X” key at the same time.  2009 will disappear and a blank space will be left. This appears to be half of a typical blank space.

4.  Next, press “Ctrl” and “C” at the same time.

5.  Open the awards package or evaluation, and highlight a blank space and press “Ctrl” and “V” at the same time and watch the space shrink.6.  Repeat this for each blank space until to reach your desired effect is reached.

I was able to work in my ‘s’ and realized I forgot the ‘r’ in “instr” needed to meet the requirements of my wing writing guide. Most of the time it will free enough space for two lowercase letters. I just learned this trick before the TSgt SCOD and it has saved the day on almost every EPR I have reviewed/written.

Here are some additional shortcuts you can employ using the same method as above for varied space sizes (You can copy the space between the “” for those with Macs):

2001 (creates a XXL space) – “ ”
2003 (creates a very large space) – “ ”
2000 (large space) – “ ”
2004 (larger than normal space) – “ ”
2008 (slightly smaller than normal) – “ ”
2009 (smaller) – “ ”
200A (very small) – “ ”