NCOER Board Questions: 20 Answers Straight From AR 623-3 and DA PAM 623-3

// 01The four tiers and the box checks

Q1What are the four NCOER box-check tiers, verbatim?

(1) Did not meet standard. Rated NCO fails to meet or maintain the required Army standards and organizational goals of leader competencies and attributes; does not enforce or meet the standard for the unit or those in his or her charge; exhibits or displays minimal or no effort; actions often have a negative effect on the mission, their Soldiers, the unit, and the Army. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-11a(1)

(2) Met standard. Rated NCO successfully achieves and maintains the required Army standards and organizational goals of leader competencies and attributes; effectively meets and enforces the standard for the unit and those in his or her charge; succeeds by taking appropriate initiative in applying the leader competencies and attributes; results have a positive impact on the mission, their Soldiers, the unit, and the Army; this level of performance is considered normal and typically demonstrated by a majority of NCOs of the same grade. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-11a(2)

(3) Exceeded standard. Rated NCO performs above the required Army standards and organizational goals of leader competencies and attributes; this NCO and his or her Soldiers often take disciplined initiative in applying leader competencies and attributes; results have an immediate impact on the mission, their Soldiers, the unit, and the Army; this level of performance is not common, typically demonstrated by the upper third of NCOs of the same grade. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-11a(3)

(4) Far exceeded standard. Rated NCO performs extraordinarily above the required Army standards and organizational goals of leader competencies and attributes; leadership enables Soldiers and unit to far surpass required organizational and Army standards; demonstrated performance epitomizes excellence in all aspects; this NCO and his or her Soldiers consistently take disciplined initiative in applying leader competencies and attributes; results have an immediate impact and enduring effect on the mission, their Soldiers, the unit, and the Army; demonstrated by the best of the upper third of NCOs of the same grade. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-11a(4)

In plain terms: each tier moves the same variables one notch, initiative, impact, and where the NCO sits among peers of the same grade. For the full unpacking, see the tier-by-tier breakdown of ¶3-11a.

Q2What form does a SGT get, and how is its rating scale different?

The rater will check either ‘met standard’ or ‘did not meet standard’ when assessing the rated NCO’s performance in part IV, blocks c through h. Raters will base each entry on whether or not the rated NCO meets or does not meet the standard for each particular attribute and competencies. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-6a (DA Form 2166-9-1)

A SGT is rated on DA Form 2166-9-1, which offers only two box checks per block; the four-box scale with Exceeded and Far Exceeded exists only on DA Form 2166-9-2 (SSG through 1SG/MSG), under ¶3-11a.

Q3Which NCOs are the top two overall boxes meant for?

The intent is for raters to use these two boxes when identifying the upper third of NCOs for each rank, with further stratification of the upper third of NCOs placed within the ‘far exceeded standard’ box. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-9 (rater overall performance)

Exceeded and Far Exceeded overall are upper-third boxes by design, and Far Exceeded is the further cut within that upper third.

Q4What caps the rater’s overall performance assessment?

An assessment of ‘DID NOT MEET STANDARD’ in previous blocks c through h by the rater results in only an overall performance assessment of ‘MET STANDARD’ or ‘DID NOT MEET STANDARD’ able to be rendered by the rater. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-9

One Did Not Meet anywhere in blocks c through h removes Exceeded and Far Exceeded from the overall block entirely.

// 02The rating chain

Q5Who is allowed to comment on potential?

For OERs and NCOERs, rater comments are specific to performance-based assessments. Intermediate raters (OER only) may comment on both performance and potential when writing assessments. Potential comments are reserved for senior raters on both OERs and NCOERs. AR 623-3, ¶1-40c

The rater writes performance; the senior rater owns potential. A rater bullet that says an NCO “will excel at the next level” is writing in the senior rater’s lane.

Q6What does the rater compare the NCO against in the overall performance block?

The rater makes an assessment of the rated NCO’s overall performance when compared with all other NCOs of the same rank the rater has previously rated or currently has in his or her rated population. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-4 (block i)

Bullet comments are mandatory and should compare the performance of the rated NCO with their contemporaries (see AR 623-3) during the evaluation period. The focus is on performance results achieved and the manner by which they were achieved. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-4 (block i)

The comparison population is the rater’s own rating history for that rank, not the whole Army, and the block i bullet must make that comparison against contemporaries.

Q7What does the rated NCO’s signature verify?

The rated NCO acknowledges that he or she has seen the completed NCOER and verifies the accuracy of administrative data in part I (except part I, block m), the rating officials and counseling dates in part II, the duty description in part III, and the APFT and height and weight entries in part IV, block a and block b. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-2 (block d2)

The signature is a verification of the report’s data, including the duty description, not an agreement with the ratings.

// 03Counseling

Q8When is the initial counseling due?

Discuss the scope of the rated Soldier’s duty description with them within 30 days after the beginning of the rating period. This counseling will include, as a minimum, the rated Soldier’s duty description and the performance objectives to attain. AR 623-3, ¶2-12b (rater responsibilities)

Thirty days from the start of the rating period, and the duty description plus performance objectives are the required minimum content.

Q9How often must counseling occur after the first session?

This counseling will occur within 30 days after the beginning of each new rating period and at least quarterly thereafter. AR 623-3, ¶2-10b(2)

Initial within 30 days, then at least quarterly for the rest of the rating period.

Q10What happens on the NCOER if counseling dates are missing?

When counseling dates are omitted, the senior rater will enter a statement in part V, block b explaining why counseling was not accomplished. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-2 (block d1)

The report still goes forward; the senior rater owns the written explanation for the missing dates.

Q11Can missed counseling alone overturn an NCOER on appeal?

The absence of counseling will not be used as the sole basis for an appeal. However, the lack of counseling may be used to help support other claims made in an appeal. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-2 (block d1)

No: by itself it is not grounds, but it can reinforce an appeal built on other claims.

// 04Bullets and comments

Q12What are the format rules for NCOER bullet comments?

(1) Be short, concise, and to the point. Bullets will not be longer than two lines, preferably one, and no more than one bullet to a line. (2) Start with action words (verbs) or possessive pronouns (his or her); personal pronouns (he or she) may be used; use past tense when addressing how the NCO performed and his or her contributions made during the rating period. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-6b(1)-(2)

Two lines maximum, preferably one; action-word start; past tense. The same paragraph also requires double-spacing between bullets, the small letter “o” prefix, and that each specific example be used only once on the report.

Q13Are bullets required in every Part IV block?

Bullet comments are mandatory regardless of the box check rating given (at least one bullet will be entered in each block of c through i). DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-6b

Yes: every block from c through i carries at least one bullet, whatever the box check says.

Q14What must a Character bullet do that other bullets need not?

Bullet comments provided will refer to a specific value and be included in the narrative (for example, ‘o solid, trustworthy NCO whose integrity is beyond reproach’). DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-4 (block c)

A Character bullet names the specific Army Value it demonstrates; a generic good-Soldier line does not meet the entry rule.

Q15Can a report comment on events outside the rating period?

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... AR 623-3, ¶3-18a

No: the report covers the rating period only, and nonrated periods stay out of the narrative.

Q16What comments are flatly prohibited on an evaluation?

The use of any remarks or comments that draw attention to differences relating to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national origin is prohibited. Subjective evaluation of a rated Soldier will not reflect a rating official’s personal bias or prejudice (see AR 600-20). AR 623-3, ¶3-21a

Protected-characteristic remarks are banned outright, and the same paragraph goes on to bar comments on restricted-filed Article 15s and on protected communications.

// 05Adverse actions and special cases

Q17Are NCOERs referred reports?

Referral. The process of formally providing a completed evaluation report to a rated Soldier for review and acknowledgment ... This provision does not apply to NCOERs, however it is applicable to NCOER addenda processes. AR 623-3, Glossary (Referral)

No: referral is an OER and AER process; the rated NCO instead reviews the NCOER at authentication, when they sign it.

Q18When is a Relief for Cause NCOER required, and what is the minimum period?

An NCO can be relieved for cause regardless of the rating period involved; however, a waiver is required to render ‘Relief for Cause’ NCOERs covering a period of less than 30 days ... A code 05, ‘Relief for Cause’ NCOER, is required when an NCO is relieved for cause. AR 623-3, ¶3-56

A relief always generates a code 05 report, and anything under 30 days needs a waiver to render it.

Q19Can failing a tougher unit PT standard alone justify a Did Not Meet in Presence?

NCOs who meet Army minimum standards for APFT but fail to meet unit standards will not be given rating of ‘DID NOT MEET STANDARDS’ within block d. ‘PRESENCE’ for physical fitness if such rating is based solely on the failure to meet unit APFT standards. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-4 (APFT entry rules)

No: the box measures the Army standard, and a unit’s tougher internal bar cannot by itself produce a Did Not Meet.

Q20What must happen on the NCOER after a substantiated SHARP, EO, or EEO finding?

For NCOs who are found with substantiated SHARP, equal opportunity, or EEO complaints resulting from an AR 15-6 investigation or other official investigation by military or civil authorities, a ‘DID NOT MEET STANDARD’ entry will be annotated in part IV, block c. and a bullet comment ‘does not support SHARP, equal opportunity, and EEO’ will be annotated by the rater in part IV block c comments section. Additionally, the senior rater will annotate a bullet comment in part V, block b. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-4 (block c)

This is the one case where the regulation prescribes both the box check and the exact bullet wording, plus a senior rater comment on top; nothing here is the rater’s judgment call.

// 06How to study this

One honest note to close on: no list on the internet, this one included, is your board’s list. Sergeants major write their own questions, and they change. What does not change between boards is the regulation text the questions are built from. Study the quotes, not just the summaries, and when a board member asks a question this page did not predict, you will still be standing on the paragraph that answers it. Every quote above was pulled verbatim from AR 623-3 (14 February 2025) and DA PAM 623-3 (12 February 2025), both free on the Army Publishing Directorate.

And when the board is behind you and the next NCOER in front of you is one you are writing, the same paragraphs you just memorized are the ones your bullets have to survive.

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