Is it really that important to make Distinguished Honor Grad, Commandant's List, etc., in the NCOES?
All kidding aside, everything that you can do to better than your peers will set you up for success. I'm if doing it, I'm in it to win it.
Well I’m here to tell you I would never discourage anyone
from trying to be the #1 solider in everything they do. I was promoted to E09
in 17 years and never once made honor grad of commandants list in any of my
NCOES. With that said where I excelled was the day to day job of being a
solider I always got above average NCOER's and expert on weapons High scores on
APFT and collage. And now that I’m retired for 5 years it’s been my experience that
the glowing accolades of dean’s list etc. really don’t weigh that much as in
the business world the main concern is how you can perform your day to day duties
to make the company money. Not discouraging you or anyone else from trying to
max out their takes bit I think the day to day performance weighs in more than
anything
Would you be considered for hiring into senior management if you're competing with a guy who graduated magna/suma/cum laude and you sqeaked by with a 2.7 gpa?
Nope. Reach for the top and that's where you'll find yourself.

Achieving one of the top 20% spots in NCOES can substantially help your career. That being said it also depends on what the criteria for the Board is for your particualr CMF. Each year the Regimental CSM for each proponent publishes board guidence for the members to follow. Sometimes that inlcudes criteria for selection to the next rank, education, and other factors they see are important. Bottom line up front....always try to achieve the top spot and you can never go wrong. Don't just do the minimum and expect to excell.
SFC Rice