Have you ever had a senior leader fail to live up to their responsibilities to you for an evaluation?

COL Jon Thompson — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 21:58:56 -0400

As a reserve battalion commander, I had about 10 months in position when my senior rater was leaving. I asked my Brigade Commander for Senior Rater option OER since the new senior rater would not have enough time to write any comments. I was told that would not be a problem and would not affect my OER. However, sure enough a couple of months later, it came back with no senior rater comments because he was not did not have enough time in position. This was a key OER for me as a commander and felt that my Brigade Commander should have gone to bat for me to get a senior rater option. To me, it was an example of failed leadership in not taking care of a Soldier.

In my current work with ROTC, I work with future Officers all the time and even though I am not a direct mentor to them, I always try to share experiences and lessons learned. So I would like to hear your experiences with this and what if anything you did to resolve the issue.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 10:21 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 22:21:40 -0400

COL Jon Thompson, I was once, quite literally, told that I could expect not to receive, or to even be considered for, a top block rating because "we reserve that for people who are being promoted or coming up to another board." Thankfully, I did not have to resolve it. The problem went away by itself.

The latest evaluation scheme comes up short as far as planning around the problem. Perhaps the lesson is that the problem cannot be stamped out. What would a truly merit-only-based system look like?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2015 10:27 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Mar 2015 22:27:36 -0400

Sir, I unfortunately have, but other officers stepped in and stepped up to cover down and take care of me. I have done the same for some of my Soldiers. Some forget that we are there to mentor and take care of our Soldiers.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2015 5:29 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 05:29:39 -0400

Sir:

1) if you mean "Is there an expectation that raters and senior raters will actually conduct counseling and write evaluations?"' then yes, I suspect that many folks have had issues with this. My current chain excluded (as they've done this right), it's been rare for me to see rater and senior rater involvement with evaluations, since getting promoted to major.

2) Had a rater tell me during initial counseling that I would be getting a Center of mass, as the ACOMs were already reserved for other billets (not officers, not based on performance, but on the nature of the billet), and that I therefore shouldn't really be concerned with performance. A bit de motivating, for sure.

3) Fell on my sword to prevent a BN CDRand CSM from giving a PSG evacuated for PTSD a relief for cause NCOER (because the two of them failed to grasp the nature of PTSD at that early stage in the deployment).

4) this new provision where a change of rater is not required for a change in rater (where a "letter of continuity" can be used instead) resulted in three separate raters for one rating period, and zero letters of continuity---the system is being abused.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Jun 1 at 2015 11:55 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 11:55:47 -0400

I find it the norm, rather than the exception. Over the years, I have adapted to it and made a point of not only quantifying everything I do, but writing detailed "suggested" Rater and Senior Rater comments, as well as "future assignments". I'll say that since I started that, almost all of my SR comments are at least 90% my writing. In fact, I can think of only 2 that deviated substantially.

The fact that "suggested Senior Rater comments" are even a thing at the rater (or rated officer) level pretty much says it all in my mind.

It's not right, but it is the standard from what I've seen.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Dec 17 at 2015 11:53 AM

Capt Jeff S. — Thu, 17 Dec 2015 11:53:38 -0500

Had a reporting senior who didn't turn in fitreps for the entire shop. While I was a 1LT overseas on Med Cruise, the command eventually got him to turn one in on everyone there... several months late, and mine was overlooked. I guess out of sight, out of mind. I never did get one from him, which left a year long gap in my record. Needless to say he was at his terminal rank and went on to retire... I did another overseas tour (1 year) and came back to fill his billet.

Some folks serve as examples not to emulate and he was one of them.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Apr 27 at 2019 12:40 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sat, 27 Apr 2019 00:40:00 -0400

How about a LTC commander getting a DUI and a full col as well working in the pentagon as a reserve aviation advisor. Both were heavily fined and forced to retire. Personally new both of them.