How do NCOERs work?

2020-08-20T12:21:19-04:00

My PSG is giving me my first ever NCOER in a few months. I have received multiple awards and achieved DHG at Postal Operations Course. She told me those can't go on NCOER because I already received recognition for it. I'm confused as I understand an NCOER is an evaluation of performance and potential. I couldn't find anything in AR 623-3 saying you can't put previously recognized achievements on an NCOER. PFC Private RallyPoint Member SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL SFC James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" LTC Stephen F. CPL Dave Hoover SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SSG Private RallyPoint Member Capt Dwayne Conyers CPT Jack Durish MSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 12:51 PM

2020-08-20T12:51:22-04:00

Your rater will evaluate your performance. Your Sr. Rater will evaluate your potential.

I can't tell you how many times I've had NCOER's OERs kicked back for crossing those lines.

I would have no problem including awards that were given to you DURING the rating period. Now, even at worst if the "awards" are not mentioned in the NCOER the performance that led to the awards could be mentioned so long as it is WITHIN the rating PERIOD.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 20 at 2020 1:03 PM

2020-08-20T13:03:12-04:00

Did she say that the actions leading up to the awards can't be used?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 1:05 PM

2020-08-20T13:05:44-04:00

That is not the case. The only items that can't be added are events that occur during non-rated time or events that are captured on a DA-1059. Even then you could still add the performance as a benchmark of your skill. But I understand what they are saying. They are considering an achievement as an evaluation for a event. This is not doctrinally based. They should be able to use those events that you were awarded for. The best way to explain this would be asking how a board would know my performance if it wasn't on my NCOER? I have never seen a board in the Army that reads the bullets on an award as a means to evaluate a Soldier.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 1:09 PM

2020-08-20T13:09:28-04:00

Let me mention an unwritten rule. The best evaluation you are going to get is the one you write for yourself. Your profile mentions you are USAR (I am as well). Evaluations are a BIG DEAL!!!!! Your commander, and his boss, and the BC's boss are all getting pressure from above to keep the evaluations up to date. No matter where I go, this is always a high priority task.

As reservists we have little time, and an Eval can burn up a lot of that little time we have. If you contribute little participation to the administrative aspect of your NCOER you are going to get a crap NCEOR and at best "meets standard" across the board.

Keep in mind our promotional future, boards, and special assignments potentially hinge on our Evaluations. If you hope for a Commission or Warrant path Evaluations are going to play a major role in those packet submissions.

Write the best NCOER for yourself and let your raters reel you in.

What's going to happen in the event your raters are up against a wall to turn in evaluations and if you played no part in writing, then your raters are going to push through whatever they can get past HRC reviewers with the path of least resistance.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 1:20 PM

2020-08-20T13:20:08-04:00

If the recognition happened during the period of evaluation, it can be documented. Doesn't have to be, but it can be. And they should be added if they occurred during the period of evaluation.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 1:36 PM

2020-08-20T13:36:54-04:00

Quality, Quantity, and Impact. That's what each bullet needs. I wouldn't use awards on an NCOER unless they had some serious impact (like BDE level or higher). But DHG for POC, that's an easy Achieves bullet. E5 is just Met or Didn't meet the standard, so your check boxes aren't an issue, just the bullets. Senior rater does potential, rater does performance.
Write your own bullets and give them to your rater, you're the only one who knows what you did.

You may absolutely mention any accomplishment on an NCOER, as long as it wasn't covered by a different rating period (as CPT Rosa said). So if it was under a 1059, then no it can't be used. But a non-1059 producing school may definitely be used for accomplishments as it then makes the unit better (there's your impact). If you were awarded the MOVSM you can mention it "SM earned the MOVSM after conducting XXX volunteer hours supporting underprivileged youth education"
I just received my last NCOER and one block had "earned Gold Recruiter Badge" and "selected for WOCS", even though I had been "recognized" for them technically - so it can definitely be done.

I'm very shocked that a 42A PSG is this mixed up about NCOERs.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 20 at 2020 1:53 PM

2020-08-20T13:53:15-04:00

Your PSG needs to see your 1SG for some remedial training.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 2:20 PM

2020-08-20T14:20:26-04:00

I agree with the others anything positive or negative that happened during that rating period can be used on the NCOER. personally that person should have been doing at the very least quarterly meetings(counselings) with you and this data would help build your NCOER.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 7:31 PM

2020-08-20T19:31:20-04:00

If the Postal Operations Course was during the rated period and generated a 1059, then the only thing mentioned about it on the NCOER is completed Postal Operations Course. If there was no 1059, then DHG can go on the NCOER.
Every award you received during the rated period can and should be mentioned on the NCOER ina manner that conveys how your recognized performance impacted the mission or the unit.
Any schools or awards prior to the start of the rated period are not mentioned.

Maybe you should schedule some time to sit down with your PSG and go over AR 623-3.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 9:47 PM

2020-08-20T21:47:31-04:00

Somewhat rhetorical question:

Have you received quarterly performance counselings? Quarterlies are a means for both the rated soldier and the the rater to discuss goals, accomplishments, and the way forward. NCOERs shouldn’t be a “surprise”. A lot of the common issues can be, and should be discussed prior to your actual annual.

I say all that as a nugget for you as you progress as an NCO. Not only for your own career, but for when you begin to rate others.

As for your immediate questions, CPT Private RallyPoint Member along with some of the others pretty much nailed it already.

Best of luck and I appreciate the honest question for a system a lot of us NCOs are a lot less familiar with than we’d like to admit; myself included.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2020 2:19 AM

2020-08-23T02:19:05-04:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member send me an email to: [login to see] I will send you some training tools that I use to train and mentor the LTs, PSGs, and all NCOs in my battery. I will be happy to help mentor you and your PSG.