How to get a copy of your NCOER from a previous unit

A Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report can affect promotions, assignments, schooling, and career decisions long after an NCO leaves a unit. If a report is missing from your records, obtaining a replacement early is far easier than trying to recover it during a board or separation deadline. Learn more about How To Submit An Aer Request For Lost Or Damaged Gear Ffb4.

The most reliable starting point is usually your Army Military Human Resource Record, commonly accessed through iPERMS. However, a previous unit’s S1 section, the servicing military personnel office, or other officials involved in the evaluation may also help locate an authorized copy.

The process depends on whether the NCOER was properly filed, recently completed, corrected, or never submitted. Keep your request specific, protect personally identifiable information, and retain every response for your records.

Check iPERMS before contacting the former unit

Log in to iPERMS and review the performance section of your Army Military Human Resource Record. Search by the report’s approximate period, former unit, and evaluation type. A completed NCOER may appear under a document description that does not match the filename you remember, so review nearby entries carefully.

If you need a walkthrough of the online process, accessing an NCOER through iPERMS can help you understand where evaluation documents are commonly displayed. Download the available file and compare it with your personal records, such as a signed copy, counseling packet, or email from the rating chain.

A report may not be visible immediately after signature. Processing, corrections, authentication, and uploading can create delays. If the evaluation was completed recently, ask your current S1 or human resources specialist whether it is still moving through the submission process.

Gather details before making a request

A former unit can respond more effectively when you provide enough information to identify the report. Include your full name used during the rating period, rank, last four digits of your Social Security number or another approved identifier, unit designation, duty position, and the approximate beginning and ending dates of the evaluation.

Also identify the rater and senior rater if you remember them. A report number, signature date, copy of the support form, or reference to a continuation page can narrow the search. Avoid sending sensitive information through an unapproved personal email account unless the recipient provides a secure method.

Ask for a certified or official copy when the document will support a promotion packet, separation action, appeal, or correction request. A regular working copy may be enough for personal review, while an official action may require verification by the servicing personnel office.

Contact the right records office

Start with your current S1 or brigade-level human resources section. Explain that you need a copy of an NCOER from a previous unit and that the report is not available in your iPERMS record. Your current office may be able to identify the proper custodian, check available systems, or submit a formal inquiry.

If the former unit still exists, contact its S1 or administrative records section using official Army contact information. If the unit was reorganized, deactivated, or stationed elsewhere, the higher headquarters, installation military personnel division, or Army records management office may be the next point of contact.

The former rating chain can sometimes provide a personal copy, but a rater’s copy should be treated as supporting evidence rather than a guaranteed replacement for the official record. Do not pressure an individual to recreate, backdate, or alter an evaluation. If the original report was never finalized, the proper remedy may be an administrative correction or a formal inquiry rather than a duplicate.

Situation	Best first step	Helpful supporting information
The NCOER is missing from iPERMS	Ask current S1 to review the record and submission status	Evaluation dates, unit, report type
The former unit still operates	Contact its S1 or records custodian	Former unit designation and duty position
The unit was reorganized	Contact higher headquarters or installation personnel officials	Unit history, location, and approximate dates
The report contains an error	Ask about an evaluation correction process	Signed report, counseling records, and evidence
You need it for a board or separation	State the deadline and request an official copy	Board notice, separation timeline, or packet requirement

Submit a clear written request

A written request creates a record of your effort and makes it easier for officials to route the issue. Use a direct subject line such as “Request for copy of NCOER from [unit]” and explain the rating period in the first sentence. State whether the document is absent, unreadable, incomplete, or believed to contain an error.

Attach only documents needed to establish your identity or support the request. A prior copy, if available, may help officials locate the report, but mark it as a reference copy. Keep the original file unchanged and save sent messages, delivery receipts, and replies in a secure folder.

If the request involves a broader administrative records problem, review related guidance from Army administrative records resources while waiting for a response. General information can help you prepare, but unit and personnel officials determine the applicable procedure for your circumstances.

Follow up and address missing or incorrect reports

Allow a reasonable processing period, then follow up with the office that received the request. Refer to the original date, attach the earlier message if appropriate, and ask whether the request was forwarded. If the office cannot locate the report, request written confirmation and ask which higher-level records custodian should be contacted.

A missing NCOER and an inaccurate NCOER are different issues. For an inaccurate report, collect specific evidence and ask the servicing personnel office or career counselor about the appropriate appeal, correction, or review channel. Do not assume that deleting a report is possible simply because you disagree with its content.

If a promotion board or other deadline is approaching, tell the officials involved immediately. Keep proof that you requested the record and ask whether a memorandum for record, copy of the request, or other documentation can accompany your packet while the search continues.

Protect the record after you receive it

When the copy arrives, verify the Soldier information, rating period, duty position, signatures, senior rater information, and all pages. Check that continuation pages and enclosures are included. Compare the document with iPERMS and your personal file rather than assuming the first copy is complete.

Store the file in an encrypted or otherwise secure location, and retain a backup that complies with your organization’s privacy rules. Avoid posting the NCOER in public forums or sending it to unverified services. A performance report contains sensitive personal and professional information.

If the report remains absent after the available administrative channels have been used, document each contact and seek guidance from your servicing S1, installation legal assistance office, or appropriate Army personnel authority. Begin the process well before the document is needed, then review your iPERMS record periodically to catch future filing problems early.