How does someone get an NFQ or NFQ-R on the centralized board?

2023-12-19T06:40:52-05:00

Looking for examples of how to someone would get this rating?

Can any old DEROG produce this rating if it's like 7 years old?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 19 at 2023 7:05 AM

2023-12-19T07:05:03-05:00

Found an old post on RP about this very thing. There is no specific answer, but it may shed some light for you

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-is-a-nfq-rating-determined-on-nco-evaluatiom-boards-a2aeb0b4-1e20-4c35-820d-c5736d905fb8

How is a NFQ rating determined on NCO evaluation boards? | RallyPoint

How is a NFQ rating determined on NCO evaluatiom boards? Will stuff from the past come back to haunt you even if it's not recent (5+ years ago). I just don't understand how someone could get a rating like this if someone gets retained and works hard to overcome a mistake, and promotes, and does good work and performs. Does anyone have any first hand experience or seen others in this situation?

Response by COL Randall C. made Dec 19 at 2023 8:41 AM

2023-12-19T08:41:58-05:00

Short answer: Likely no … but it’s always a possibility.

The way the process works on an NCO evaluation board is that board members will score your file between 1 and 6, with 6 being the best (actually, 6+ since they can assign a + or - to score as well). I’ve seen RC boards using a 1-18 scale with 6 or below being the NFQ range. Bottom line, the lower third of the evaluation range is considered NFQ territory.

When the scores are averaged, those with a score of 3 +/- or above are fully qualified (top two-thirds of scale) while those that are 2 +/- or below are not fully qualified (bottom third of scale). Keep in mind, this is not a “grade on a curve”, but an fixed scale.

I’ll look to see if I can find the briefing I can reference online later, but the slide shown is an extract of the HQDA briefing on centralized boards I received brief back in 2020.

You won’t get a definitive answer because your rating is going to be a subjective evaluation by the board members. However, unless your file reads as sub-par or if you don’t have any of the mandatory FQ guidelines (if any based on your MOS and rank), a 7-year-old derog is likely a ‘blemish’ in your file that will reduce your score but wouldn’t land you in the “NFQ zone” automatically.

NFQ is “you didn’t make the cut”. NFQ-R is “this NCO didn’t make the cut and should be shown the door”. NFQ is if you’re below a “3” while NFQ-R requires a majority of the board members to render that decision.

The best feedback you’ll get is to talk to your talent manager, but if you’re objectively honest with yourself, you should easily be able to tell if you have a “sub-par” file or not.

As a side note the CMFs will give guidelines to an evaluation board of what a “Most Qualified” and “Highly Qualified” individual is (see DA PAM 600-25*, Appendix B) to aid in the scoring process. If there are any “must have this or have done that” type of items (mandatory to be Fully Qualified), the CMFs will also include that as a slide (consider them ‘instructions to the board’).
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* DA PAM 600-25 (NCOPD guide) - https://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/DR_pubs/DR_a/ARN38811-PAM_600-25-000-WEB-1.pdf

ARN38811-PAM_600-25-000-WEB-1.pdf