NCOER
NCOER
Posted on Jul 30, 2025
What should the NCOER bullet rating be for someone who graduates from a master's program "with distinction" and a 4.0 GPA?
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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.
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NCOER
NCOER
Posted 4 mo ago
Responses: 6
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
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.
-------------------------------------------
* DA PAM 623-3 (Evaluation Reporting System) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN43006-PAM_623-3-000-WEB-1.pdf
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COL Randall C.
SFC (Join to see) - Ahhh... You were looking for others to confirm your opinion, not for advice on what to give someone being evaluated.
Either way, my opinion would remain the same. As I'm not the leader writing your evaluation, keep in mind that and $4 will get you a large coffee at Starbucks. Additionally, like award nominations, "excellence is often in the eye of the beholder".
One clarification ... unless your Platoon Leader is an NCO, he will have a 4-year college degree as it is required before they are commissioned, regardless of the source of their commission.
The salient part of your response is "I will ask" because for something like civilian education, it's entirely a judgement call by the evaluator. If the Army sent you to civil schooling, and you were receiving an AER, it would be different, but not in this case.
However, what I would advise you to do is to develop and refine your case now for having him up the rating instead of just asking him to do so. I.e., develop and refine the 'elevator pitch' you're going to give to him.
● If your degree enhances your assignment or MOS (it sounds like it might), then law out how it does so.
● Describe the details of getting that 4.0 GPA (e.g., Between class attendance and work/study requirements, you spent 1500 hours over two years to get that GPA, frequently at the expense of family time while maintaining a high degree of XXXXX at work...). Again, link it back to how it benefits the Army and, if possible, how it benefits your unit/Platoon Leader directly.
● Describe what "with distinction" means to the college you attended. Some colleges give the "with distinction" caveat if you passed all courses with a certain minimum grade while others may give it to the top X% of the class.
● etc.
Remember ... "elevator pitch" and not "30-slide PowerPoint briefing". Condense your best arguments to 30 to 60 seconds (about the length of time you'll have a captive audience in an elevator ride).
Either way, my opinion would remain the same. As I'm not the leader writing your evaluation, keep in mind that and $4 will get you a large coffee at Starbucks. Additionally, like award nominations, "excellence is often in the eye of the beholder".
One clarification ... unless your Platoon Leader is an NCO, he will have a 4-year college degree as it is required before they are commissioned, regardless of the source of their commission.
The salient part of your response is "I will ask" because for something like civilian education, it's entirely a judgement call by the evaluator. If the Army sent you to civil schooling, and you were receiving an AER, it would be different, but not in this case.
However, what I would advise you to do is to develop and refine your case now for having him up the rating instead of just asking him to do so. I.e., develop and refine the 'elevator pitch' you're going to give to him.
● If your degree enhances your assignment or MOS (it sounds like it might), then law out how it does so.
● Describe the details of getting that 4.0 GPA (e.g., Between class attendance and work/study requirements, you spent 1500 hours over two years to get that GPA, frequently at the expense of family time while maintaining a high degree of XXXXX at work...). Again, link it back to how it benefits the Army and, if possible, how it benefits your unit/Platoon Leader directly.
● Describe what "with distinction" means to the college you attended. Some colleges give the "with distinction" caveat if you passed all courses with a certain minimum grade while others may give it to the top X% of the class.
● etc.
Remember ... "elevator pitch" and not "30-slide PowerPoint briefing". Condense your best arguments to 30 to 60 seconds (about the length of time you'll have a captive audience in an elevator ride).
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SFC (Join to see)
My platoon leader is a CW2, my best argument, I completed the Master in less than two years, following the completion of my bachelors. No one else within my MOS or others competing for the 15Z that I know has a Masters and this is as to be competitive for E8 promotions in the beginning of 2027 for as a Washington State National Guard member.
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LTC Trent Klug
SFC (Join to see) How many slots are available for MSG in your State aviation community, and are all of them filled? If there are openings,or will be, perhaps a talking with your unit CSM or your BDE CSM to tell them of your extra efforts? Perhaps you could get assigned a slot if any are open as well during the next round of NCO selections/advancements.
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LTC Matthew Schlosser
SFC (Join to see) - I got mine in one year... Honestly, I wouldn't harp on the 4.0, and would proceed cautiously with the "with distinction," unless you can quantify it (in line with COL Cudworth's comment). Focus instead on how the degree makes you more of an expert in your MOS and the fact that so few of your peers have invested the time and energy into obtaining the education.
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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.
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LTC Matthew Schlosser
I know. But getting anything less than a 4.0 in graduate school is substandard. Flagging the "with distinction" in an NCOER bullet is equivalent to "was never late for formation."
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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
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
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SFC Jerry Teichmiller
Sgt Kevin, I agree with you, I retired in 1988 and sure many things have changed. Being an old time NCO, I feel his on duty time will say volumes. I have got to say that an enlisted man/women has gone the extra mile, and should be recognized for it.
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