Senior Rater comments that don't jive

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 11:58:21 -0400

My question is pretty simple. Example: Infantry Platoon Sergeant or fill whatever MOS you are. Your rater is your PL, your Senior Rater is your Commander, and the reviewer is your Battalion Commander.
So riddle me this as; as the Senior Rater in an Infantry Rifle Company a Commander is the Senior Rater for 3 SFC. However in alot of the Senior NCO promotion topics the # system for rating is defined in the example of them being compared to their peers throughout the Battalion. Example: 1 of 15 NCO's in the Battalion; best Platoon Sergeant in the Battalion.
How is this quantified when the Senior Rater doesn't have these other 14 NCO's as subordinates? It really doesn't make sense.

Response by SGT(P) Jason D. Wendel made Sep 30 at 2014 2:38 PM

SGT(P) Jason D. Wendel — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:38:54 -0400

And this is exactly why a biased system can adversely affect the track-pads of other NCO promotions. And we have seen in countless situations where good NCO's get passed over in a competitive category, making it harder on these guys to advance through their primary and secondary zones on successive attempts. This directly limits these same NCO's from being able to advance in change of responsibilities, re-enlistment options, and in the advancement of rank.

The protocol we use to rate needs change. Your suggestion is clear, and I personally can attest to the same issues in regards to the statements being made. For individual troops, that will mean the growing fear of enlisted retention boards, in some cases even for E-9s. Involuntary separations have already been enforced.

And for those who stay, promotion boards will be tougher than ever as part of the force reduction plans will inevitably involve “attrition” – i.e. not promoting people and letting them separate voluntarily or politely shown to the gate with an up-or-out cap.

Those who are fortunate enough to make rank and stay in uniform will end up doing more with less. So all said and done, when it comes down to it, are we really promoting the very best, based on our rater-system? In most cases I would say Senior-NCO's are taking the heaviest blows, as they are left to worry if they'll have the opportunity to continue their careers, and rightfully so. Because they deserve to have that opportunity.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 30 at 2014 2:54 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 14:54:11 -0400

If a Senior Rater (company commander) makes a comment comparing the NCO against others outside his rating scheme, he is wrong and the Reviewer (battalion commander, with advice from his CSM) should not allow that to go forward.
As the Reviewer for many, many NCOs, I look for those kind of errors.
A Senior Rater can only compare with his/her rating scheme, or potentially with those served with over a career.
I am the Senior Rater for my 1SGs, with the brigade commander the Reviewer. I am very careful to annotate clearly and without repeating myself when I enumerate in the SR block. In other words, I can't claim two are the "Number one First Sergeant in the Battalion."
If I was the rater individual, I would not allow my senior rater to rate me against those outside their rating scheme as it would hurt me in Army wide boards.

Response by 1SG Chris Brown made Sep 30 at 2014 3:15 PM

1SG Chris Brown — Tue, 30 Sep 2014 15:15:21 -0400

I agree with you that it shouldn't happen. What then happens in the other companys? If every company commander rates one of their platoon sergeants as best in the battalion, there's an awful lot of number ones! Unless the battalion CDR/CSM have sat down and enumerated all of the SFCs in the battalion, and that's the basis for the commander's comment, then I don't see how that is possible.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 1 at 2014 5:30 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 05:30:11 -0400

I haven't read everything yet on the 'new' NCOER coming out, but what I have seen, it appears this is a big step in reducing/removing all inflation.
If the changes follow the lead of the new OERs that came out this spring, there are multiple forcing functions to address proper ratings.