Is there anything that can be done about someone refusing to be objective in the rating process?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 07:01:13 -0500

I’m about to receive the lowest-rated NCOER (Qualified). I volunteered to leave my unit and go help stand up the 1st SFAB. Now that I’m here, waiting for my NCOER and about to drift beyond 2 months of unrated time, I’m told by my Rater that my 1SG and Senior Rater just aren’t over the fact I left the unit. If they’re not being objective and fair, who can I turn to? How do I fix this?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2018 7:41 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 07:41:49 -0500

I would request a meeting with my CSM using open door policy. Bring any supporting info, including previous NCOERS. especially if those established a pattern of good ratings up until now

Response by LT Brad McInnis made Feb 2 at 2018 8:51 AM

LT Brad McInnis — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 08:51:20 -0500

Not sure how it works in the Army, but I will tell you my 2 cents from the Navy Officer side... Try and get it handled in your enlisted chain of command first. Talk to whoever your senior enlisted is (make sure to have all your ducks in a row, evidence, what you did, etc.) about the situation. Give them a chance to handle it. Most times that I saw these kinds of issues, The ratee hadn't tried to do anything to remedy it beforehand. In that case, when it came to me, I really didn't have a choice but to go with what my senior enlisted and the raters said. I certainly wasn't going to undercut them. Now, if I saw that the ratee had issues, and tried to remedy them, then it was a little different story. Best of luck to you!

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Feb 2 at 2018 9:05 AM

SGT Joseph Gunderson — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 09:05:24 -0500

If you have already contacted them to remind them to finish the NCOER, go over their heads. This is one of the great uses of the NCO support chain. 1SG is in the rating scheme, then go to your CSM. If he fails to light a fire under your raters' asses, move on up to the next CSM. Eventually, you will get what you need. As far as unrated time goes, do you have a rating scheme set up at your new unit? As long as your previous raters date the NCOER correctly and your new raters date theirs correctly, you don't necessarily have unrated time... 2 months actually is not the worst wait that I've seen for an NCOER... I've been present for guys that actually signed two years worth of NCOERs at the same time... the system sucks...

Response by Sgt Tee Organ made Feb 2 at 2018 9:13 AM

Sgt Tee Organ — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 09:13:00 -0500

this is a tough one, if your talking about performance eval then youre in quite a pickle if what you say is true. Normally those are objective and reflect your professional fitness as your seniors see you. If they are using it t manipulate your career choice, it's gonna be very hard to prove it. If your already out the door though, get up with folks in your new unit and start networking with them. Chances are these leaders have called ahead and spiked your punch up there, get in with them now and leave an impression with them. You know anyone up at that new unit let them know what youre facing as well, they'll be great allies for you. Don't let this sour your career though. You wanna keep what you got and leave on a good note.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2018 9:39 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 09:39:29 -0500

Honestly, I would go to IG with the complaint and listen to what they have to say. But, if you get the rating and petition it, you will have a better chance of beating it because then its a higher elchelon that will investigate bias for a performance eval. Typically, that is when it will come out and your ncoer will be modified for E7 E8 board

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Feb 2 at 2018 9:49 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 09:49:56 -0500

There is an appeals process that you can use. However in order to appeal the NCOER you have to have it. You can also speak to the reviewer if there is a disconnect between how the rater and senior rater evaluate you. Is this a case of the rater rating you highly and the Senior rater rating you low or did the rater and Senior rater low ball you?
You can also see the CSM but they can't direct anyone to change anything unless its an admin error, formatting issue or other technical problem. They can however provide input to the BC if they are the reviewer and there are things that can be done.
Are you assigned to the SFAB or TDY from your unit. If assigned I'm not tracking on the non rated time. If TDY there is a paragraph in the reg about how extended TDY is handled for rating.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 2 at 2018 10:02 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 10:02:48 -0500

How were you aprized if the rating? Did you ask to speak to both on a phone con? In this instance your true recourse is to have an open dialog listening to their issues and dispelling if you can. They owe you this call at the very least as in the unit they would be obligated to sit you down for a coaching session.

I am also wondering why the 1SG is your eater, what were your duties prior to leaving the unit?

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 2 at 2018 11:28 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:28:26 -0500

1st off you have to have the NCOER to rebut it. There is a procedure for doing so.2. If the 1SG is in the rating scheme, then you can go to the CSM to lit a fire under the 1SG to get the thing done. 3. Don't get hostile- if you can show that the NCOER is not on the up and up, it can be killed.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 2 at 2018 11:57 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 11:57:07 -0500

Let me say up front I'm not an expert on the Army NCO rating scheme; however, I lived through the Army Civilian Evaluation process and three different AF officer rating processes. Personnel rating systems are always subjective as long as people are involved. Raters should always be as objective as possible, but some just aren't. Opinions based on facts as the rater perceives them will always influence the ratings. If you can't prove some sort of discrimination or bias based on your membership in a protected class (check with your EO office to understand protected classes), you may be stuck. Even if you are in a protected class, you'll have to prove your rater based his or her rating on your membership in that class. Since the rating appears not to be a "referral" requiring a senior leader to sign off on some type of unsatisfactory rating, you may have no grounds for appeal. Read all the Army directives on the NCOER process to see if you have an appeal available--looks like SGM Bill Frazer knows about a rebuttal process. Can the people you supported at the 1st SFAB provide a supplemental rating form to your rater? If you did well in assisting them, that might help blunt the effect of the qualified rating.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2018 4:30 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 16:30:04 -0500

What does your quarterly counseling say? Your NCOER should reflect your counselings. If it doesn't then there is a problem. I hope you made sure you were counseled. Until you see the NCOER there is not much you can do about it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2018 11:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Feb 2018 23:42:56 -0500

It’s all about the counselings. If there is no counselings than it’s hard to bebute.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2018 2:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 14:48:29 -0500

Thanks everyone for the responses and assistance! I literally re-downloaded Rally Point specifically for this question, and I’m so glad I did! I’m setting up a meeting with my BN CSM and will go from there.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2018 10:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 22:51:21 -0500

http://arba.army.pentagon.mil/unfavorable.html

You have to appeal it but make sure you have email correspondence requesting NCOER or anything related to your NCOER that way you have proof rather than your word vs theirs.

unfavorable.html