Who rates the Supply Sergeant?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:26:43 -0500

I have been taught in ALC that the supply NCO is rated directly by the CDR and reports to the CDR. I was referred in ALC to reserach AR 735-5, 2-8, # 4 which states that the follows:

"(4) Custodial responsibility. The obligation of an individual for property in storage, awaiting issue, or turn-in to
exercise reasonable and prudent actions to properly care for, and ensure proper custody, safekeeping, and disposition of
the property are provided. Custodial responsibility results from assignment as a supply sergeant, supply custodian,
supply clerk, or warehouse person, and is rated by, and answerable directly to, the accountable officer or the individual
having direct responsibility for the property.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2014 12:29 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 12:29:06 -0500

Once again, the XO. He is most closely tied to most of the support elements in the company, whether commo, CBRN, supply, etc. As such, he would be able to write the most honest and knowledgeable NCOER.

Response by SSG John DeLore made Nov 7 at 2014 12:11 PM

SSG John DeLore — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 12:11:27 -0500

I would completely agree with and hope the commander adheres to the reg.
Why?
It's his property. Just as with trusting the 1SG with the personnel, so to should he trust the Supply SGT with the property book. That wig said, it should be a direct relationship between the 2, therefore rating should be done as such.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Dec 19 at 2014 12:21 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 12:21:35 -0500

My understanding is that the commander rates the supply sergeant. That's what I have always seen.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Dec 19 at 2014 12:23 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 12:23:41 -0500

I thought it was the XO, not the CO.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2014 1:09 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 13:09:30 -0500

The default should be the CO. Only if the XO is supremely competent would I turn the reins over to him/her.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Dec 19 at 2014 7:33 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Fri, 19 Dec 2014 19:33:11 -0500

Not being in the Army, I would say that it only makes sense that it would be the Commander, as all that stuff is his, and eventually someone will ask where it is.

Response by SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. made Dec 25 at 2014 10:56 AM

SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 10:56:42 -0500

Optimally it should be the commander being that he is the Company PHRH. You make logistical recommendations to him not the XO or 1sg especially when it comes to property. He decides who gets what signs the paperwork etc. and when a FLIPL comes down, its up to the Supply Sergeant to write it up and who along with the commandèrs heads on the chopping block. Logpacs are different.
The XO is the go between for supply and the commander but not the decider and is usually the direct supervisor. But this is only at the direction of the commander. He may not want the XO dealing with supply which has happened with me.
In all reality the person responsible for all the property whether the CO, XO, Warrant, 1sg etc. would the rater be as long as that person out ranks the supply guy. Ive been rated by all of the above very rarely with the commander doing it directly himself. But always he is in the rating scheme at the company level.
Take care of the commander he will take care of you on the Ncoer, usually.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 26 at 2014 2:10 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:10:31 -0500

I always rated my Supply NCO, and all CDR'S should. He/she is the one you have entrusted to properly manage your property and should be rated by you with input provided by the XO. I have seen terrible situations develop in the supply channels because the NCO does not have a direct path to the CDR and only does what the XO directs. This is especially true when the XO has no idea what consequences develop from their choices. Trust your XOs with a lot, but when things come up missing theitheir name isn't on the SOC/FLIPL.

I received initial pushback from my BC, because he didn't want to senior rate a SSG and then send it to BDE for review. I was able to change his mind with the AR quoted above and reminding him how he was always harping on the importance of supply discipline.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 4 at 2015 1:15 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 13:15:36 -0500

The question is answered in AR 623-205 Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Reporting System, not AR 735-5 Property Accountability Policies

AR 623-205 states in part:
"2–4. Rules for designating the rater
a. The rater must be—
(1) The immediate supervisor of the rated NCO and designated as the rater for a minimum period of 90 rated days.
(See paras 3-30, 3-32, 3-33, 4-12, and 5-12 for exceptions.)
(2) A sergeant or above and senior to the rated NCO by either pay grade or date of rank (see AR 600-20). If the NCO is on a recommended list for promotion to one of the top three NCO grades and is serving in an authorized position for the new grade, then he or she may rate any NCO he or she supervises, if after the rater’s promotion he or she will be senior in pay grade or date of rank to the rated NCO. An NCO frocked to the grade of 1SG, SGM, or CSM and serving in an authorized 1SG, SGM, or CSM position may rate any NCO he or she supervises, if after promotion he or she will be senior to the rated NCO by either pay grade or date of rank."

And that my friends usually points to the company XO, who is assigned direct responsibility for the supply room and property accountability other then mandatory inventory 100 or 10 percent's done by the commander.

If not the XO because the commander personally and directly supervises the company supply sergeants daily duties (how the heck does he have time for that and not ignore his other duties??), then yes I would see the commander as the SM providing " immediate supervisor of the rated NCO"

It all comes down to the command team clearly stating duties and responsibilities..
In one unit I was the supply sergeants rater, because the commander tasked me with supervising the supply room, our XO at the time was not capable and the commander did not have the time to do so.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2015 1:36 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Feb 2015 13:36:34 -0500

I'm currently an XO and I rate my supply NCO directly. Seeing as how logistics and property are my largest priorities as an XO, it makes sense that I am nested closely with my supply section. Also, if the commander rates the supply NCO, his Sr rater would be either the BN XO or BN CDR, neither of which have any real interaction with the soldier. I think the system in place is appropriate.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2015 4:48 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 04:48:56 -0500

When I was in command I rated my supply NCO. Not all company sized elements have a XO. However, the commander is given all responsibility (including supply) for the organization in which he/she assumes command. The supply personnel are the subject matter experts there to assist and oversea the supply management on behalf of the commander working for him/her. So why wouldn't the commander rate the supply sergeant?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Mar 9 at 2015 12:23 AM

COL Charles Williams — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 00:23:12 -0400

Back in the day... I rated the Supply Sergeant, Motor Sergeant, NBC NCO, and the Como Sergeant. I had no XO, and the additional duty positions (Supply, Motor etc.) were training positions. As an Battalion XO, it was the same in our Companies, and the same when I was Battalion Commander. Even when I was a Tank Company XO, the Commander was the rater for the key support NCOs.

That said... I suspect you asked, as there is an issue in your world? Perhaps that is question we need to address?

Response by SFC Michael Greenwood made Mar 11 at 2015 12:09 PM

SFC Michael Greenwood — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 12:09:29 -0400

I am retired(SFC, USA) now by 10 yrs, I served as a Unit Supply NCO (76Y/92Y) from 4th QTR 85 to 4th QTR 05 (20 yrs). I have worked for Medical, Dental, Transportation, Field Artiliery, Aviation, and NCOA. From Company Level to Brigade+. Excluding the time that I was assigned to the 8th Army NCO Academy(I was rated by the 1SG) and with a Property Book Office(I was rated by an NCO and Reviewed by a CW3), I have always been rated by the XO (all levels) and if by chance there was no XO the CO rated me. I am not sure what unit you are in or where those that are telling you have served but I believe your situation is the exception (as in my experience with the NCOA in Korea). Most First Sergeants and Sergeant Majors do not want to take the time to understand the Supply Sergeants duties and responsibilities so they leave it on the Officers shoulders. Be stellar and do your job, always stand out as an NCO and do the right thing. It seemed I always had to act better and out shine my fellow NCOs because they did not see me as one of them until they realized I was making them look bad. It does not matter if your rater is an NCO, Warrant, or Officer as long as they rate you properly. What matters is what your ratings are.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2015 10:11 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Mar 2015 22:11:33 -0400

In the rating scheme published by my Battalion leadership I senior rate my Supply SGT. His rater is my AGR Readiness NCO and the reviewer is the Battalion Administrative Officer. I'm not sure if this is the norm in other RC formations or not to be honest. If the Commander is the rater for the Supply SGT on active duty, does that mean his reviewer is the BDE Commander?

Response by SSG Bernard Harwood made Jun 7 at 2015 1:26 PM

SSG Bernard Harwood — Sun, 07 Jun 2015 13:26:59 -0400

I was rated by my XO when i was on active duty then i changed mos and now i am back in the reserves as a supply sergeant and i am wanting to find out where i can find the regulation o n who rates me. When my current commander is a Maj .

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 26 at 2015 8:20 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 08:20:17 -0400

I have my XO rate the Supply SGT. This is simply for professional development and I want to expose the young XO to all things property so they are best prepared for command down the road.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2015 12:00 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Sep 2015 12:00:35 -0400

I have bean in the Army a long time and the Regulation stipulate that the highest ranking NCO or Officer, Must of the time this will be your XO, Flowed by your CO and ends in Battalion XO. When no XO is present the CO, Battalion XO and The Battalion Commander. If no XO is present tried to get your 1SG to do it.

Response by SSG Bernard Harwood made Oct 19 at 2015 2:33 PM

SSG Bernard Harwood — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 14:33:01 -0400

Thank you so much for that information i just was not able to find anything like that myself

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Mar 27 at 2024 12:31 PM

MSG Thomas Currie — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 12:31:48 -0400

ALC taught you want is supposed to happen.
That has always been the correct approach, but I've seen many units where the Supply Sergeant was rated by the XO or the 1SG. These rating systems may be implemented for a variety of reasons, such as the silly idea that "NCOs should be rated by NCOs," but more often the reason is because someone in the chain of command was more concerned about who the reviewer and approver would be.

Response by SGT Donald Croswhite made Mar 28 at 2024 3:02 AM

SGT Donald Croswhite — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 03:02:13 -0400

CO has the right to rate the Supply sgt, but XO usually does.