Evaluations: Myths Dispelled

AR 623-3 runs more than 150 pages. That’s a lot of nuance for new (and even experienced) raters and senior raters to keep track of. Today we’ll tackle a few common myths that are dispelled in the reg. As always, italics added for our emphasis, and […] indicates we cut out stuff we thought was fluff. And, as always: you’re smarter reading the reg yourself to be exactly sure.

The major takeaways:

· Intermediate Raters: Are only authorized for specialty branches (chaplains, JAGs and medical officers). Basically, an intermediate rater provides “technical supervision.” There is no other authorized use of an intermediate rater, barring special permission from HQDA. (Paragraph 2-6). Intermediate raters are not to be used to pool ratings under a higher senior rater.

· Newly commissioned and appointed officers and warrant officers do not get OERs until after completing BOLC/WOBC. However, their first evaluation is backdated to a start on the date of their commissioning.

· Mobilizing: Unless a Soldier needs an eval normally, a unit mobilization does not generate new evaluations. So, If a Soldier’s last annual was in January and the battalion mobilizes in June and the Soldier remains in the same position, there is no need for an evaluation until the following January (barring an event that would normally cause one, like a change of rater). (Paragraph 3-40c). The biggest clue to this is that the Evaluation Entry System (EES) does not have a "reason code" reflecting mobilization.

Diving deep in the doctrinal details:

2–6. Rules for designating an intermediate rater (DA Form 67–10 series only)

An intermediate rater is only authorized for use by specialty branches (Chaplain Corps, JAGC, and AMEDD) when there is a level of technical supervision between the rater and senior rater, and/or in dual supervisory situations, and/or in instances when the rater’s immediate supervisor is the logical senior rater, but does not meet senior rater eligibility requirements as prescribed within table 2–1. Other unique circumstances require a request for an exception to policy.

3-35 Special Situations

b. Newly commissioned officers and newly appointed warrant officers.

(1) A newly commissioned 2LT or a newly appointed WO1 will not receive an OER before successfully completing BOLC or WOBC. The officer’s commissioning or appointment date will be the “From” date on the first OER (see para 3– 35b(5) for exceptions).

(2) The “From” date of the first OER begins their first OER period covered on the date of their commissioning or appointment.

(3) The time from the commissioning or appointment date (including completion of BOLC or WOBC) through the day before the officer arrives at the unit of assignment is nonrated time. This nonrated time and any other qualifying nonrated periods (see DA Pam 623–3 for nonrated codes) qualifies the officer to receive a code 10, “Extended Annual” OER (see para 3–43), unless another type of OER is required.

[...]

3–40. Basic rules

c. During periods of mobilization (for example, mobilized, temporary change of station (TCS), active duty for operational support–Reserve Component (ADOS–RC), active duty for operational support (ADOS), or contingency operations– active duty for operational support (CO–ADOS)), USAR and ARNG Soldiers will follow Regular Army rules for evaluation reports. When an entire unit is mobilized, and rating officials remain intact, an evaluation report is not required at the time of mobilization unless otherwise required under this chapter (for example, “Change of Rater” or “Change of Duty”). Individual Soldiers who are mobilized will receive an evaluation report (for example, “Annual,” “Change of Rater,” or “Change of Duty”) in accordance with the provisions of this chapter if minimum rater qualifications are met. See appendixes G and H for USAR and ARNG-specific evaluation reporting requirements.

Want more than this Daily Dose of Doctrine? Take A Doctrine Deep Dive with a read of AR 623-3 at: ARN14342_AR623-3_FINAL.pdf (army.mil)