How to Navigate the EES Dashboard for First-Time Users

The Evaluation Entry System, commonly called EES, helps Army personnel manage evaluation actions and supporting information. For a first-time user, the dashboard can feel crowded because it brings together roles, forms, workflow statuses, notices, and record-related functions in one secure environment.

EES is used for administrative processing rather than personal recordkeeping alone. What appears on the screen may depend on your assigned role, unit permissions, evaluation type, and the current stage of a report. A Soldier, rater, senior rater, and unit administrator may see different options.

Before making changes, take time to identify what the system is showing and what action is expected from you. Careful navigation can prevent avoidable delays, incorrect routing, and confusion about whether a report has actually been submitted.

Before You Sign In

Use an approved device and a supported browser when accessing EES. Army systems may require a Common Access Card, current certificates, and permission through the appropriate network or authentication process. If the login page does not load correctly, check the browser, card reader, certificates, and network connection before assuming the account is locked.

Have the basic details for the evaluation available, including the rated Soldier’s name, report period, evaluation type, and the names of the rating officials. This information helps you recognize the correct record when several evaluations or personnel actions appear in your workspace.

A first-time user should avoid clicking through every available menu without a purpose. Start by locating the dashboard home screen, identifying pending actions, and learning which items require your action versus those shown for reference.

Learn The Main Dashboard Areas

The dashboard usually presents work queues, evaluation records, alerts, and navigation controls. Labels can vary as system updates are introduced, but the underlying functions tend to follow the same pattern: find a record, review its status, open the associated form, and complete or route the required action.

Look for indicators such as pending, returned, draft, submitted, or complete. These labels are more useful than the visual position of an item because a report may move between queues as different officials review it. Open the record details when the status is unclear rather than relying only on a color or icon.

Keep personal profile information separate from evaluation content. Rank, duty position, organization, and contact details may affect how a record is displayed or routed. If any of these details appear outdated, document the discrepancy and follow the appropriate unit administrative process before proceeding.

Follow An Evaluation’s Status

An evaluation can pass through several stages before it becomes part of the official record. The exact workflow depends on the report type and local procedures, but a typical sequence involves preparation, rating, review, authentication, submission, and filing.

Dashboard status	What it generally means	Appropriate next step
Draft	The form is being prepared and may not be ready for routing	Review entries and save changes
Pending action	Someone assigned to the workflow must act	Identify the responsible role and deadline
Returned	A correction or clarification is required	Read comments, revise carefully, and resubmit
Submitted	The action has been sent forward for processing	Confirm receipt and monitor the record
Complete or filed	The workflow has reached its current endpoint	Retain supporting information and verify the record

A status is not always proof that the evaluation has been permanently filed. System processing, local review, or downstream record updates may still be required. Save correspondence and follow-up details when an evaluation is time-sensitive.

If the dashboard shows no expected evaluation, confirm that you are signed in under the correct account and role. Then check the report period, unit assignment, and rating chain. Missing access may be an authorization issue rather than a missing evaluation.

Check The Rating Chain Carefully

The rating chain determines who prepares, evaluates, reviews, and routes the report. A wrong rater, senior rater, organization, or duty relationship can affect both workflow and the substance of the evaluation. Review these fields before signing or forwarding a report.

When an error appears, do not attempt to solve it by editing unrelated fields. Record what is incorrect, capture the relevant identifying details, and notify the authorized administrator or chain of command. The process for fixing a routing problem is different from correcting a typo in narrative content. This guide to a rating chain error can help clarify the issue and the information commonly needed for correction.

Also pay attention to suspense dates. A report may remain visible in your queue even when another person must act first. Understanding the assigned role and deadline prevents duplicate submissions or unnecessary changes to a record that is already moving through the workflow.

Review Documents And Profile Information

Use the dashboard to verify that the evaluation displayed belongs to the correct Soldier and reporting period. Compare names, ranks, duty positions, unit details, and dates with your local records. Small mismatches can create larger problems when a report is signed or filed.

Rater profiles and senior rater profiles can influence how evaluation results are viewed within the broader personnel process. They do not replace accurate counseling, observation, or performance documentation, but they are part of the context surrounding evaluation management. Learn more about senior rater profiles when reviewing an NCOER workflow.

Before signing, read every section that applies to your role. Check duty descriptions, bullet content, dates, comments, administrative data, and required authentication fields. Do not assume a previous reviewer caught an error simply because the form has advanced to the next stage.

Build Reliable Dashboard Habits

A consistent routine makes EES easier to manage, especially when multiple evaluations or administrative actions are active. Use these practices whenever you open the system:

• Start with the pending-action queue and identify items assigned directly to you.
• Verify the Soldier, report period, rating chain, and evaluation type before editing.
• Read returned comments in full and address each requested correction.
• Save or record confirmation details after submitting an action.
• Escalate access, routing, or filing problems through authorized unit channels.

Avoid sharing CAC credentials, leaving an authenticated session unattended, or storing sensitive screenshots in an unsecured location. EES information can contain personally identifiable and performance-related data, so normal Army information-protection practices apply.

It is also useful to maintain a private administrative log with dates, actions completed, and people contacted. Keep it limited to necessary details and store it securely. This record can help establish what happened when a status does not update or a submission cannot be located.

Keep Your Evaluation Record Ready

Learning the EES dashboard is mainly a matter of understanding roles, statuses, routing, and review points. The screen layout may change, but these fundamentals remain useful across NCOER, OER, and related evaluation actions.

Use official Army instructions and your unit’s administrative guidance for decisions that affect filing, signatures, corrections, or deadlines. Use informational resources to understand the process, then verify requirements with the authorized office responsible for your record.

Sign in with a clear purpose, inspect each field before moving forward, and document important submissions. Apply these habits during every evaluation cycle to reduce preventable errors and keep your personnel record moving through the proper channels.