At what point should an NCO write their own NCOER?

SSG Brian Marshall — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 17:14:02 -0400

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 5:23 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 17:23:34 -0400

The book answer is "never". The reality is that you will more often than not have a hand in writing it. I think that writing up a draft is never a bad idea. You get to showcase your great work! ((Also, I have had a fair share of Supervisors that were crap writers, so having a draft was a career salvage.))

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Aug 5 at 2015 5:42 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 17:42:50 -0400

You better take a very active role in your report card......If that means writing a report full of "recommended bullets" then I suggest you do just that!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 5 at 2015 5:50 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 17:50:21 -0400

I agree never, with the NEW NCOER coming out it should be more equitable for a fair rating. However, when I was in the Army in which 20 and half years of was an NCO. I wrote a rough draft, because my raters always used my draft for the real NCOER. My first NCOER. The rating chain never did a counseling, unless the CSM inspected it. " I don't encourage it, but who really knows your career like you do". It's one of those things " don't ask, don't tell." In the end take care of yourself.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Aug 5 at 2015 6:05 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 18:05:22 -0400

CSM Michael J. Uhlig thanks for the advice. NCOs and civilians take notice! Great words of wisdom!

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 6:20 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 18:20:39 -0400

This must be different in every service. In the Navy E5s write their own rough drafts that get chopped by E6 and ultimately the chief. E6 like myself write our own an may get some suggestions from Chief but don't get changed alot unless you royaly screw the pooch. Then again im not too sure what pay grades are considered NCO for the other branches. (Ours starts at E4).

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 5 at 2015 6:27 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 18:27:26 -0400

I had an AGR E-5 working for me and he showed me the NCOER that someone wrote for him. I was aghast as it was written in a manner that would ruin his career. An AC E-7 and I rewrote his NCOER which described him as a hell of an NCO, which he was.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 5 at 2015 6:40 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 18:40:04 -0400

Well... They shouldn't. But I have my employees write a self evaluation so I can see how they feel about their performance.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 7:28 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 19:28:56 -0400

Never! Just think what it would be like if everyone in the VA wrote their own efficiency reports...oh!...maybe they do...naaw!

Response by MSgt Stephen Council made Aug 5 at 2015 7:37 PM

MSgt Stephen Council — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 19:37:05 -0400

I never wrote my own report. I made it clear to my supervisors that I would provide them with useable bullets that were ready to be cut directly into a report. I respected them and they returned the sentiment as evidenced by the awards they put me into including winning an Air Force level award. I never asked my troops to write their own either.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Aug 5 at 2015 9:21 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 21:21:17 -0400

An NCO should never write their own NCOER. Provide input - yes. I always kept a diary of what I did, accomplished complete with dates. At the end of my rating period, this was given to my Rater, S Rater. There have been times I've had to force my rater to do my NCOER, if this meant going to the DCG (which I did once) so be it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2015 9:40 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 21:40:25 -0400

Of course the answer should be never. We as leaders should be doing the right thing which means counseling, NCOER support forms and everything else that gets put to the side because of a more "important" task. As the cliché goes "everyone does it". Especially in the Guard. We have one weekend to do a month's worth of work. Counselling is all but impossible for most. NCOERs can be done between drills but it is hard to counsel a Soldier when you are not with them. I ask my NCOs for input to ensure I cover the good things they did but I do my best to write it for them even though I usually write the majority of my own. While I could say " it's not my job, he should do it" but in the end it is my career so I want to make sure I don't get the shaft because my supervisor didn't do his/her job.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 1:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 13:15:26 -0400

Every single time the NCOER is due the rated NCO should turn in a rough draft of his/her NCOER. No one cares about your career like you do; so me personally I'm always going to be heavily involved in my rating process.

Response by LTC Charles T Dalbec made Feb 6 at 2019 4:58 PM

LTC Charles T Dalbec — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 16:58:39 -0500

NEVER but provide your strengths and how you will improve any challenges that you may have to your rating chain. Hooah!!!