Noncommissioned Officer
Evaluation Report (NCOER)
Counseling
Purpose of NCOER Face-toFace Counseling
• Improve or maintain performance and
professionally develop the rated NCO
• Develop and communicate performance
standards to the rated NCO at beginning of
rating period
• Provide feedback regarding progress in
meeting goals throughout rating period
– Do not dwell on past; consider how to improve
future
Best counseling is always FORWARD LOOKING
Counseling Rules
• Face-to-face counseling mandatory
• DA Form 2166-8-1 mandatory for CPL
thru CSM
• Initial counseling within 30 days of rating
period
• Later counseling sessions conducted
quarterly
• Duty description as means to evaluate
Subordinate-Centered (2-Way)
Communication is Critical
• Subordinates assume an active role in
the counseling session and maintain
responsibility for their actions
• Following skills assist leaders in
subordinate-centered counseling:
– Active Listening
– Responding
– Questioning
Leader Acts as a Counselor
• Leaders have a responsibility to develop
subordinates
• During counseling, leader acts primarily as a helper,
not a judge
• Following qualities help leader to assume effective
role during counseling:
– Respect for subordinates
– Self and Cultural Awareness
– Credibility
Basic Counseling Steps
Preparation for Counseling
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Schedule and notify Soldier
Prepare duty description
Update rating chain
Prepare working copy of NCOER
Familiarize yourself with values/ responsibilities
Relate them to duty position
Determine success requirements
Prepare notes for counseling
Review counseling tips in FM 6-22
NCO Counseling Checklist
DA Form 2166-8-1
• Contains instructions/guidance for
preparing and conducting counseling
sessions and for writing duty
descriptions
• Provides sample bullets
• Summarizes the counseling session
• Serves as a record of counseling
Improves performance counseling by providing
structure and discipline to the process
NCOER
The NCOER System
Rating Chain Provides Best Performance &
Potential Evaluation
NCOER Roles Assigned Through
Rating Schemes
• Lists the rating officials of each NCO
assigned/ attached to a unit
• Commander’s responsibilities:
– publishing, updating, and posting rating schemes
– ensuring rating schemes mirror the chain of
command/ supervision
Rated NCO
Rater
Senior Rater
Reviewer
Platoon SGT
SFC Posey
971124
Platoon Leader
2LT Tan
971222
Commander
CPT Lilly
970511
BN Commander
LTC Paisley
970326
Types of Reports
Types of Reports
(continued)
Rating Chain Qualifications
Rater Responsibilities
• Counsel rated NCO on duty performance and
professional development monthly/events (EXEVAL,
CALFEX, etc). Army standard is quarterly
• Prepare DA Form 2166-8-1 for each rating period
• Assess performance of rated NCO & document on
checklist and working copy of NCOER
• Prepare a fair, correct report
• Enter his/her signature in Part IIa (NCOER)
Evaluates focusing on performance and
performance counseling
Rater Tips
NCOER: Parts I, II, and III
Peer Review & Feedback
Use Sample NCOER & NCOER Preparation Guide
as references
NCOER: Part IV
Small Group Activity
Counseling Role-Play
Activity: First Counseling Session
Ensure NCO knows rating chain
Discuss duty description
Discuss values / responsibilities
Discuss standards for success
Give specific examples of excellence
Allow NCO to make suggestions or ask
questions
• Record key points and obtain NCO initials
•
•
•
•
•
•
Activity: Later Counseling Sessions
 Update duty description
 Discuss what he/she did well and could do
better
 Record key points discussed
 Update checklist and working copy NCOER
 Obtain NCO initials
In-Class Activity
NCOER Part IV
• Scenario:
It is time to rate your platoon sergeant for whom you’ve
completed Parts I-III of the NCOER. He/She is by far the
best NCO in the unit. He/she excels in nearly all values
and responsibilities. His/Her overall performance and
potential is very high. Complete Part IV of his/her NCOER
form, rating accordingly.
TIME LIMIT: 10 minutes
Use Sample NCOER and NCOER Preparation Guide for reference
• In pairs, review partner’s work and briefly share
feedback
NCOER: Part V
Senior Rater Responsibilities








Become familiar with rated NCO’s performance
Prepare a fair, correct report
Enter his/her signature in Part IIb (NCOER)
Obtain the rated NCO’s signature in Part IIe
(NCOER)
Explain absence of counseling statements
Ensure bullet comments support ratings
Enter appropriate statement in Part Ve when rater
does not meet qualifications
Do not direct rater to change an evaluation that
he/she believes to be honest
Evaluates potential, overviews performance
evaluation, and mentors
Senior Rater Tips
• Check early to ensure rater is counseling and has a checklist
• Must address potential—promotion, schools, assignment
– Include recommendations for future
• Be on same sheet of music as rater throughout period—
resolve differences early
In-Class Activity
Part V
• Assuming same scenario, complete Part V for
your imaginary platoon sergeant
Use Sample NCOER and NCOER Preparation Guide for reference
• In pairs, review partner’s work and briefly
share feedback
Reviewer Responsibilities
 Ensure proper rating chain completes the report
 Ensure rater and SR evaluations are clear,
consistent, and fair
 Ensure bullets support ratings
 Indicate agreement/disagreement with rater and
senior rater
 Sign Part IId (NCOER)
 Sign Parts IIa and b when also serving as rater and
SR
Provides rating safeguard and overwatch
Class Discussion
Assisting a soldier to resolve
his/her problems ... contributes
to good unit morale. This, in
turn, assists you in
accomplishing your mission.