Each rated Soldier will receive a copy of the senior rater’s support form at the beginning of the rating period.
b. For DA Form 2166–9 series.
(1) Beginning of the rating period.
After the rater has conducted a face-to-face counseling session with the rated NCO, the senior rater should have a face-to-face counseling session (or an alternative type of discussion) with the rated NCO.
The intent is to counsel the NCO initially within the first 30 days followed by counseling at the midpoint for the evaluation period.
The senior rater should verify the face-to-face discussion by dating and initialing the DA Form 2166–9–1A (see DA Pam 623–3 for procedural guidance).
The senior rater will—
(a)
Review, approve, provide comments, and initial the draft DA Form 2166–9–1A to verify the face-to-face counseling between the rater and the rated NCO.
The senior rater will also ensure compliance with Army evaluation counseling requirements.
(b)
Ensure that DA Form 2166–9–1A is returned to the rater and rated NCO.
(2) During the rating period.
The senior rater will obtain, through a variety of means (for example, personal observation and/or various forms of communication from the rater, rated NCO, and/or others), information regarding the rated NCO’s duty performance and potential, and mentor subordinates, as appropriate.
(3) End of the rating period.
The senior rater is primarily responsible for evaluating the NCO’s potential and providing oversight of the evaluation process.
The senior rater will—
(a)
Review the completed DA Form 2166–9–1A at the time the NCOER is prepared.
Afterwards, the senior rater will initial and date the DA Form 2166–9–1A to acknowledge the review.
(b)
Complete the NCOER, part V, blocks a through c, for DA Form 2166–9 series (NCOER) (see DA Pam 623–3 for procedural guidance).
1.
For DA Form 2166–9–1, part V, block a, the senior rater will assess the rated NCO’s potential compared to all NCOs of the same rank.
This assessment should be based on NCOs the senior rater has previously senior rated and those in their current senior rater population.
a)
If the potential assessment is consistent with the majority of NCOs in that grade the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Highly Qualified” box.
If the rated NCO’s potential exceeds that of the majority of NCOs in the senior rater’s population, the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Most Qualified” box.
If the rated NCO’s potential is adequate, but beneath the majority of NCOs in the senior rater’s population for that grade and the senior rater believes the rated NCO has potential with further development, the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Qualified” box.
If the rated NCO’s potential is below the majority of NCOs in the senior rater’s population for that grade and the senior rater does not believe the rated NCO should be retained on active duty, the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Not Qualified” box.
b)
The intent is for the senior rater to use the “Most Qualified” box selection to identify the upper-tier, which is limited to the top 24 percent of the NCOs rated at each rank.
2.
For DA Form 2166–9–2 and DA Form 2166–9–3, part V, block a, the senior rater will assess the rated NCO’s potential compared to all NCOs of the same rank.
This assessment should be based on NCOs the senior rater has previously senior rated and those in their current senior rater population.
a)
If the potential assessment is consistent with the majority of NCOs in that grade the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Highly Qualified” box.
If the rated NCO’s potential exceeds that of the majority of NCOs in the senior rater’s population, the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Most Qualified” box.
The intent is for the senior rater to use this box to identify the upper-tier of NCOs for each grade.
b)
In order to maintain a credible profile, the senior rater must have no more than 24 percent of the ratings of a grade in the “Most Qualified” top box.
More than 24 percent in the “Most Qualified” box will result in a “Highly Qualified” HQDA electronically generated label (see DA Pam 623–3); however, it will be charged against the senior rater’s profile as a “Most Qualified” NCOER if it is unresolved, and a documented senior rater profile misfire will occur.
To ensure maximum rating flexibility when rating populations change or to preclude a “Most Qualified” box selection from profiling as a “Highly Qualified” rating, senior raters need to maintain a “cushion” in the number of “Most Qualified” ratings given, rather than residing on the line at 24 percent.
Senior raters may consider limiting the use of the “Most Qualified” rating box check of all ratings for NCOs of a given rank, but this is not a requirement.
c)
If the rated NCO’s potential is adequate, but beneath the majority of NCOs in the senior rater’s population for that grade and the senior rater believes the rated NCO has potential with further development, the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Qualified” box.
If the rated NCO’s potential is below the majority of NCOs in the senior rater’s population for that grade and the senior rater does not believe the rated NCO should be retained on active duty, the senior rater will place an “X” in the “Not Qualified” box.
d)
Promotable NCOs with a “P” after their current rank, serving in an authorized position of the next higher rank, are considered as NCOs of the next higher rank in making comparative assessments with contemporaries.
(See para 4–7g for important information concerning administrative corrections.)
e)
For senior raters first establishing a profile (separate by grade), only one of the first eight NCOERs received for processing at HQDA for any given grade may be rated as “Most Qualified.”
f)
All NCOERs will receive an HQDA electronically generated label that reflects the senior rater’s profile at the time the NCOER processes, based on the date of receipt.
Rated NCOs who are promotable/selected to attend USASMA and serving in a documented position authorized for the next higher rank will have a “P” identifier with their rank on the rated NCOs NCOER in part I.
For SSGs and above, the “P” identifier indicates that the NCO’s NCOER will be profiled (part V, block a) with those of the next higher rank.
When applicable, the appropriate DA Form 2166–9 series (NCOER) form for the next higher grade will be used to evaluate the promotable NCO.
g)
SGTP reports will not be included or count towards the senior rater’s SSG profile.
3.
The NCO’s overall potential is an assessment of the rated NCO’s overall potential when compared with all other NCOs of the same rank the senior rater has previously rated, or currently has in their population.
4.
The senior rater will enter the total number of Army NCOs of the same rank as the rated NCO they currently senior rate.
This information, in conjunction with additional information contained on the HQDA electronically generated label, will help HQDA selection boards identify senior raters with small rating populations and weigh the report accordingly.
5.
The narrative for part V, block b, on DA Form 2166–9 series (NCOER) may be based in part on the rated NCO’s final DA Form 2166–9–1A.
However, the choice of what to enter on the NCOER is ultimately up to the senior rater.
6.
Senior raters will comment on any substantiated finding, in a finalized Army or DoD investigation or inquiry, that a rated NCO committed an act of sexual harassment or sexual assault, failed to report a sexual harassment or assault, failed to respond to a complaint or report of sexual harassment or sexual assault, or retaliated against a person making a complaint or report of sexual harassment or sexual assault.
7.
The senior rater will identify two successive duty assignments and one broadening assignment for which the rated NCO is best suited, focusing 3 to 5 years out, to include retirement and “Relief for Cause” NCOERs.
An exception to this rule exists for NCOERs on which the rater indicates “Did Not Meet Standard” either by box check or content within the rater’s overall performance and the senior rater indicates a rating of “Not Qualified.”
On these NCOERs only, no successive duty and broadening assignment are required (DA Pam 623–3).
(c)
Initial the final DA Form 2166–9–1A to verify review and ensure it is returned to the rated NCO.
(d)
When applicable, enter a senior rater statement in part V, block b, of the NCOER explaining the reason why counseling was not accomplished when counseling was not completed and counseling dates are omitted from the NCOER.
(e)
Forward the completed NCOER to the NCO for signature before processing to HQDA.
(f)
Ensure timely submission of NCOERs to HQDA (to arrive no later than 90 days after the “Thru” date of the NCOER or as stipulated in a MILPER message announcing an HQDA-level selection board), in the desired sequence, for processing at HQDA and filing in the rated NCO’s AMHRR.
The senior rater maintains responsibility for the NCOER until it is filed in the AMHRR.
(g)
NCOERs are processed and profiled and the HQDA electronically generated labels are applied daily as NCOERs are received, regardless of the “Thru” date of the NCOER and the senior rater’s signature date.
(h)
An NCOER failing to process in the sequence desired by the senior rater is not a basis for appealing the NCOER.
Proper sequencing of NCOERs impacts Soldiers’ personnel actions, especially those concerning HQDA selection boards.
(i)
“Complete the Record” and other types of evaluation reports for HQDA-level board consideration must be submitted in time to arrive no later than the date established in the MILPER message announcing the board.
(j)
EES and the Senior Rater Evaluation Timeliness report, a component of the Senior Rater Profile report, are tools to assist senior raters in fulfilling their responsibilities.