If given the second block on OER/NCOER due to your SR's profile limitation, what enumeration make up to be on par with the top block?

2020-12-30T11:25:07-05:00

Is SR's comment "Top 15% of all officers/NCOs I have worked with... promote ahead of peers" good enough to be on par with someone getting a top block?

Should it be lower than 15%? 10%? 5%?. Technically, the top block is given to the 49% top officers the SR is currently rating, but commenting "CPT Does is top 49% of all the CPTs I have worked with..." or even top 30% just seem pretty bad. Same goes for NCOER.. I feel like even "top 24% of all SFCs I have worked with" doesn't seem that great.

So what should be that percentage that could make up to be on par with someone getting the top block?

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2020 1:48 PM

2020-12-30T13:48:21-05:00

Sir, I would say that the “promote ahead” alone doesn’t put that HQ in the same consideration as a strong MQ rating. Promote immediately, or as soon as eligible briefs stronger in my opinion. I do know that on the NCOER side HQDA has recommended steering away from the “top xx%” in favor of enumeration in regards to current SR population, ie “1 of 7 I currently senior rate”

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Dec 30 at 2020 2:52 PM

2020-12-30T14:52:38-05:00

Jeff, take a step back for a minute and put into perspective what you are doing with percentages for a minute - especially when comparing with the term "worked with". As a 1LT you have NO time in service, that is, "UNLESS" you were prior service as an enlisted service member with a few years under your belt. Just pointing out a fact - don't take offense!
The individual you are rating is but one in "Thousands" of NCOs/Officers at 6-12 yrs of duty, whom I suspect you'd be rating at your level. Or, yourself rated at 2/3 yrs... So considering top 15% of say 1000 soldiers, that is the top 150 they've worked with, or 100, or 50, for percentages, right? Now back to if "YOU" are rating - and stated the top 15 percent that "YOU SPECIFICALLY" have/are working with for 2/3 years in a CO/BN/BDE, etc., of those same NCOs/Officers at 6-12 yrs of duty? Even if you met every single one, what's that 150 troops at E5-E7/2LT, and 15% of the 15K or so soldiers eligible for promotion. So you rated that individual at what level now, top 15? You know 15 best of 15,000, of your 2/3 years in service. How can you possibly justify they are in the top 300 (15%) now, when you only know 150 max? Honestly, using a percentage at your level does no justice...
As some of the aforementioned have stated, would recommend looking for guidance into the appropriate verbiage to use. As bad as it sounds, it is a yearly game of which words to use for your troops - well, let me tell you, its the same on a resume upon departing the Army, so learn to write well and take pride in it. Trust me, efficiency, fluency and key words are key to one's success for promotion while serving and getting hired upon exit!

V/R, Jim

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 30 at 2020 4:01 PM

2020-12-30T16:01:38-05:00

This one has always killed me, write the rating as if it were a top block. You are a young LT so there isn't much but and this will blow some people's minds but when they go to the board they will scan down, see one of 3 SFCs I senior rate, already operating at the MSG level, select for MSG at first look...etc. they have been doing this with OERs for years where a poorly written MQ reads like a HQ or a proper writeup has a way of telling the board they didnt have the ability to rate. Also once your rating is approved by HRC it will post your numbers (number of ratings 1) which lets the board members see you didnt have a profile. Trust me as a person who made MAJ without a top block but all exclusive write ups.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 30 at 2020 4:23 PM

2020-12-30T16:23:14-05:00

Usually the most helpful is
- top 3 of 10 I senior rate
- top 5 of 37 I have senior rated in last 5 years.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2021 10:04 PM

2021-01-02T22:04:25-05:00

One correction, it’s not restricted to the top 49% the Senior Rater is currently rating, it’s over the lifetime of the officer. That’s what LTC and above desire a General Officer as a Senior Rater. When you’ve rated 50-100 LTC/COL and if you e managed your profile well, you’ll have room to take care of your best people. Senior Raters have a hard job, they have to measure the officers/NCO they SR against the current peer population and against those they have served with over the course of their career. If you don’t agree with the 15% comment, you need to address it with your SR and give him or her the merits of your case. But as a 1LT, it will be hard to convince a LTC/COL that your evaluation is more accurate than theirs. Trust me, if your SR wrote that you are in the Top 15% of all LTs he/she has worked with, then they probably mean that. 15% is not the kiss of death, but it’s a “middle of the road” MQ. I’d ask your SR what a top 5% officer looks like? How do you get there. Percents are great when the population the SR evaluates is small (less than 5). If he/she SR 10 LT, then getting a Top 3 or #1 would set you apart. I assume that is going to be a challenge since you are MS and a 71B. Not a great deal of leadership opportunity in that AOC. Good luck LT.

Response by COL Kelly Hines made Jan 3 at 2021 1:44 PM

2021-01-03T13:44:55-05:00

Top 15% of "all officers I have worked with" with a MQ is good, especially for a LT.

You have to look at the enumerator: "Top 15% of 500 officers I have rated or senior rated", "among the top 2 platoon leaders I have senior rated" "my best company commander, top 1% officer, and 1st pick for BN CMD" etc. I generally tended to enumerate "among the top 5 officers I have known in my 34 years of service" or "one of the top 2warrant officers I have seen in my 28 years as an aviator" if it was one of my best guys/future Battalion Commander etc. A lower level MQ would get a %, generally 10-15%. As a senior rater, I kept my profile around 30% and took my vote seriously as it was helping decide the future leadership that would replace me. Everyone is not an MQ officer. Unfortunately not all SR adhere to this idea (gives everyone a HQ then an MQ, or does not manage their profile well) and then you have the ones that can't write...so there is a little bit of luck and timing involved...

I always recommend talking with your rater to see what their ideas are (their vote counts with the SR) , and also get an inbrief/outbrief with your SR so you can get an idea of their philosophy.

Lot of rambling, hope that helped.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2021 3:56 PM

2021-05-18T15:56:59-04:00

YOUR assessment should be based on number of 1. Troops assigned to you, the Senior Rater
2. The larger the number of troops, the higher the number of those who you could 'top block
i.e.: 54 Captains assigned as Commanders, 6 Battalion Commanders rate the 54 Captains, Brigade Commander only considers top block for 6 or 7 Captains out of the 54.
How did he/she come up this percentage? He told us collectively that 'only the top 5% performers will receive the top block, we all signed the counseling forms.
Obviously this was my personal experience having 2 Company commands.
Both Brigade, Civil Affairs Command CG used the same formula.
Pre command courses cover all this
What matters is SR's bold face typed counseling to his/her Bn Commanders, who then counseled us (Company COs)

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made May 18 at 2021 4:31 PM

2021-05-18T16:31:42-04:00

Even the best written 2nd block is not as good as the worst written top block.