Are you supposed to receive quarterly counselings prior to your NCOER?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:11:42 -0500

My platoon sergeant has not given me a single counseling since I have been under her for a year now. I have no idea what she will be putting on my NCOER because she doesn’t say much to me or any of the other NCOs about our leadership. If she gives me a bad NCOER is there any way to rebuttal it? I have heard you are supposed to get quarterly counseling’s to annotate your progress.

Response by SFC Marc W. made Feb 8 at 2021 4:15 PM

SFC Marc W. — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:15:45 -0500

By regulation yes.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 4:18 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:18:09 -0500

As an NCO you NEED to get into the regulation and DA Pam on evaluations. Your evaluations are the bread and butter of your future promotions. You need to understand when and how you are supposed to be rated. As for your question, you can't receive a negative NCOER without being formally counseled for whatever you did. The NCOER for a SGT is pretty forgiving, it just says that you did or did noteet the standard. Your NCOERs at higher grades are more detailed and you are rated on how well you did.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 4:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:25:29 -0500

Yes. Yes you are. You should get an initial counseling within 30 days at your unit or whenever you get a new rater. Then quarterly.

In my 16 1/2 years I have had one rater legitimately counsel me every quarter. On the actual NCOER Support form. She was a civilian at that point but had been an Army CPT.

However, I have written the gist of my bullets for every NCOER I have ever had as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 4:33 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:33:49 -0500

AR 623-3 has always stated that initial counseling is within first thirty days of rating period then quarterly thereafter to assess performance and the senior rater should counsel initially at the beginning of rating period and at the halfway mark of the rating period to address the soldiers potential. If counseling is not accomplished then the counseling dates are left blank and the senior rater has to explain why you were not counseled in your senior rater comments on your NCOER. However this rarely happens and counseling dates are made up and soldier signs. I’m not asking you to rock the boat and burn bridges with your rating chain, I’m just giving you regulatory guidance to remember when you become a PSG.
Key take away: counsel your NCOs you expect them to do it for soldiers.

Response by SFC Melvin Brandenburg made Feb 8 at 2021 4:38 PM

SFC Melvin Brandenburg — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 16:38:27 -0500

The rater is only doing themselves a disservice by not doing the counselings. Missed opportunities and lack of documentation for bullet points.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 6:00 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 18:00:22 -0500

Like everyone else has said, yes you are supposed to be. Does it happen like it is suppose to, not always. We are all human and we forget, life gets in the way, missions change at a drop of a hat, etc. Yes there is a way to rebuke a negative NCOER. For that you would need to consult the reg. Maybe pull you NCO off to the side and remind them about it and help them out with it. When I write mine I always have the Soldier with me so we can go over it and if I missed something, I can add it in. And that goes for the counselings as well.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2021 9:03 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 21:03:13 -0500

Yes, the rater is supposed to be counseling you quarterly. In my experience these dates get pencil-whipped at evaluation time. The lack of counseling is a failure by the rater. But, you have some responsibility to this situation too.

If you aren’t getting feedback you need to ask for it. It is important to know where you stand performance-wise, which eliminates any surprises at eval time. Regularly requesting feedback will help you to sustain your strong points while improving on your weaknesses. So if you aren’t getting the advice you need, ask for it. Get it on the calendar so that it can’t be blown off, and bring a list of important questions to ask the PSG about your professional development needs.

Response by 1SG Angello Gordon made Feb 9 at 2021 2:02 AM

1SG Angello Gordon — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 02:02:00 -0500

Of course. If not, write your own and have him sign it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2021 7:09 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 07:09:29 -0500

100%! If you read the regulation it clearly says where quarterly counseling’s will take place. Additionally, they should be sent to the senior eater as well so they may review them. You have to speak up and request it if it’s not being done. You’re basically taking a shot in the dark right now with your ncoer.