What should the NCOER bullet rating be for someone who graduates from a master's program "with distinction" and a 4.0 GPA?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 17:30:06 -0400

If someone was to graduate from a college with a masters and they finish with a 4.0 GPA and their diploma states "with distinction" and they put this on their NCOER, what should the bullet rating be? to standard, exceeded standard, or far exceeded standard? with this in mind college is not required in the Army especially as enlisted; however, it is great for being competitive and to gain technical knowledge if embarking on senior positions.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jul 31 at 2025 9:13 AM

COL Randall C. — Thu, 31 Jul 2025 09:13:43 -0400

Based on your comments and rank, I assume the evaluation is for a SSG.

You're not going to find any official "if they have this, then they get this" guidance. There IS general guidance (see DA PAM 623-3*), but it's going to come down to your subjective evaluation as their leader (in other words, your opinion).

My opinion --- likely I would rate it as "Exceeded Standard". I would say a 4.0 GPA with distinction merits more than a "meets standards" for self-development, but unless there are other exceptional attributes/achievements that would support a "Far Exceeded Standard", I wouldn't go that far.

As a side note, I have seen 'civilian education' comments in both IVe/Intellect or IVg/Develops. Personally, the majority of the time I placed them in IVg as that is where the "Seeks self-improvement" evaluations are made. If the degree was MOS-related, then I usually placed the comments in IVe.
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* DA PAM 623-3 (Evaluation Reporting System) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN43006-PAM_623-3-000-WEB-1.pdf

ARN43006-PAM_623-3-000-WEB-1.pdf

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 2 at 2025 12:04 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 12:04:37 -0400

Having sat many Boards, the key thing is to have the 4.0 with distinction in the narrative. SMs many times think the Board members are dumb. Most are excellent. We pick up on narrative and "check the box" mismatches. We also know the pathway things take. If there isn't another narrative that would offset to the met standard, or worse yet, raised it to met standard, Boards tend to figure it out. BTW, disconnects are blamed on the writers and reviewers. Many get resolved a the Third Crunch.

Response by LTC Matthew Schlosser made Aug 3 at 2025 10:54 PM

LTC Matthew Schlosser — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 22:54:00 -0400

To be frank, a 4.0 in grad school is the standard. "With distinction" sounds super fluffy and non-substantive. I agree with COL Cudworth that "exceeded standard" is warranted, not because getting a 4.0 is unusual, but because making the effort to get a master's is uncommon.

Response by SGM Buck Bowman made Aug 9 at 2025 7:38 AM

SGM Buck Bowman — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 07:38:15 -0400

What did you just say that what his bullet should say

Response by 1LT Peter Suedfeld made Aug 9 at 2025 1:33 PM

1LT Peter Suedfeld — Sat, 09 Aug 2025 13:33:33 -0400

I don't want to be a spoilsport, but I would say it depends on what discipline the degree was in, and what institution it is from. As a long-time (now long-time retired) university professor, I rate a Master's with distinction possibly quite highly, depending on the answer to those two questions.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 10 at 2025 11:17 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Aug 2025 11:17:37 -0400

As a former, Training NCO and Scout Squad Leader on the AGR program fro RA. Civilian Educations was an additional. For me EER's and OER's were the terms in my day. And these were the yearly job peromances evaluations. The real question is how did you perform for the Solsiers under you? Did you Training all your Soldiers on Common Task and ARTEP training by way of the Compnay Supervised On the Job training programs? SOJT programs are what get you qualified for the first three digits and the skill levels. And did your Soldiers pass there Skills Qualificatoions testing and ARTEP Evaluations.

Now since long being discharged 1988. I would think things have not changed that much. But I am currious to see what stirs up. But it seems that there is a an age old problem. and history will repeat ist self.

I am also a former 76Y30, and with the requirements the Amry has as well as the? the Civilian world is all messed up. For logistics and Operations training I have? A four year degree is moot. And NCO's still run the Army or military. And I still can put together a Training program for any job. Set up the books, coduct the following Document Registers, Unit Manning Rosters as per MT&OE's and a simple After Action Report. Even now I and doing a small After Action Report, to justify what I did for the last week on job hunting. Imagine that? Let the games begin.

11B2V all the way