What would you do if you felt that you were receiving an NCOER rating lower than what you deserve?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 16:25:53 -0500

If you felt that you were doing the same amount of work and accomplishing the same things as your peers in your platoon, who are receiving a 1/1 or 2/1 on their NCOER, and you were receiving a 2/2, what course of action would/could you take?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2014 6:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 18:49:19 -0500

I would ask them for the proof justifying their choice. If they have none or there is none, there is surely an issue.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 17 at 2014 6:51 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 18:51:05 -0500

Unfortunately those numbers are completely subjective, so it's a tough fight. One can debate a factual inaccuracy, but it's hard to prove/disprove an arbitrary number that essentially serves as someone's opinion of you.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Feb 17 at 2014 7:15 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 19:15:29 -0500

SSG Perry, can you give us more details about this situation? We'd like to give some advice but need to know more about the circumstances, etc. Thanks!

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2014 7:19 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 19:19:53 -0500

First of all: The reg and guidance for appealing your NCOER is AR 623-3 The AR suggests that you try to consult your rating chain and then chain of command before you sign your evaluation and it is sent to HQDA. Secondly: There has been a misunderstanding over the last few years that if you're not getting a 1/1 on your NCOER, then you are somehow a dirtbag.  This is the furthest thing from the truth. A 1/1 means "Among the Best."  Therefore, everyone cannot be "the best."  If everyone is the best, then everyone is mediocre.  A 1/1 is for that rare "Super Trooper" who excels at everything s/he does and touches.  After work, s/he volunteers, betters his/her unit and community, and does truly awesome things.  All in all, someone who everyone looks up to and admires. A 2/2 means that you are an above average NCO and a credit to your unit.  Your potential for greatness is also pretty above average.  You are above center-mass, but not that "Super Soldier."  Nothing to be ashamed of. A 3/3 means you came in, did your job, passed your APFT, and didn't get in any trouble.  You're not on anyone's radar for being great or trouble.  Again, nothing to be ashamed of, but nothing to really be proud of either. 4 & 5: Well, you need some work.  If you're not improving, you should be dusting off that resume. So if you're giving everyone a 1/1, you're devaluing what a 1/1 REALLY is and means.  If you think you always deserve a 1/1, and your command isn't throwing medals at you or parades for you, then you are either misunderstanding the evaluation system or are fooling yourself.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2014 7:43 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 19:43:48 -0500

First, ask for an appointment with the rater and the senior rater.  Until the NCOER is accepted by HRC (which requires your signature, unless you refuse to sign and it is uploaded anyway, then it requires an explanation of that by the senior rater in his/her comments) it is not official.  Discuss specifically the areas you take issue with, offer alternative bullets and rating based on documentation and see if you can make them see the light. If that fails and the issue is serious enough, the next steps are outlined in chapter 4 of AR & DA PAM 623-3 in regards to a commander's inquiry.  Again, this is prior to submitting the NCOER to HRC.  Making changes after signing the NCOER is a painful process and limited by recommendations in chapter 4 of the aforementioned references.   Here's my key question:  Did you receive an initial and quarterly counselings thereafter that delineated how you were failing, meeting, or exceeding the standard?  No NCOER should be a surprise, ever; it is the culmination of a year's worth of work under a rating chain that should be explicit on how well you are doing.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2014 8:36 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 20:36:10 -0500

Off the bat, I would ask to sit down with your rating chain and find out exactly what merited your rating. Is it just the numbers you disagree with or the NCOER as a whole? Before we can proceed, a little bit more information would help us in giving you the best advice possible. So far, though, what everyone else has said on here is pretty spot on.

Response by CSM Michael Poll made Feb 17 at 2014 10:15 PM

CSM Michael Poll — Mon, 17 Feb 2014 22:15:02 -0500

A 2/2 is a difficult fight, as a 1/1 is the best of the best. A rater does not have to provide consellings for a good NCEOR. A 2/2 is a good NCOER so the only course of action you have is to ask your rater and SR Rater about it. Remember that signing the NCOER ony means that the administrative blocks are correct. It does not mean that you agree with the evaluation. It is difficult to give you more advise without knowing you nor reading the NCOER. Knowing what the rater and SR Rater sees in you etc. I would ask them what you did or need to do be among the best.