If I ask for an earlier report date, would that change my projected unit?

No it won't. Also, you can't ask for an earlier report date without a valid justification. The report date is based on the unit strengths at the time of report.

If your orders have the statement “early report authorized” or “sixty days early report authorized” then you can report early without submitting any paper, however your current unit has to sign off on it.

You must be coming to Hood, lol.