3–18. Comments
a.
Comments will not exceed the space provided on evaluation reports.
Additionally, comments must pertain exclusively to the rating period of the evaluation report; comments related to nonrated periods will not be included (that is, schooling, duties performed while suspended, and so forth).
Awards and/or special recognition received during the rating period may be cited in evaluation comments (for example, “received the Humanitarian Service Medal” or “named the NCO of the Year”); however, comments related to scholastic achievements are limited to AERs.
See paragraph 3–35 for the exceptions pertaining to WTU Soldiers who are performing duty in addition to their healing mission.
b.
In preparing their comments, rating officials will convey a precise but detailed evaluation to communicate a meaningful description of a Soldier’s performance and potential (as applicable).
In this manner, both HQDA selection boards and career managers are given the needed information on which to base a decision.
For OERs and NCOERs, raters will only comment on performance when writing assessments.
Potential comments are reserved for intermediate raters (for OERs) and senior raters on both OERs and NCOERs.
As an exception, rater’s who assess officers on DA Form 67–10–3 and DA Form 67–10–4 OERs may comment on both performance and potential.
c.
Rating officials may consider including in their comments the degree of professionalism demonstrated by the rated Soldier in their particular area of expertise.
This is particularly pertinent in assessments of specialty branch officers (Chaplain Corps, JAGC, and AMEDD) and those required to maintain certain credentialing or certification standards, foreign language skills, and high-level security clearances.
d.
Authorized abbreviations, brevity codes, and acronyms (ABCAs) found in the ABCA database, which contains the authorized ABCAs for Army use, may be used in rating officials’ comments.
However, other ABCAs must be spelled out the first time with the shortened form indicated within parentheses; thereafter, the ABCA may be used alone.
The use of ABCAs will be limited for clarity of content.
Information on ABCAs can be obtained at the Army Publishing Directorate’s website https://armypubs.army.mil/.