Preparing Your EES File for a Command Evaluation

A command evaluation gives leaders a consolidated view of your performance, duty history, professional development, and administrative readiness. Your Evaluation Entry System (EES) file should make that review straightforward by presenting accurate records and evidence that support your current evaluation.

Preparation is more than checking whether an NCOER or OER has been submitted. Soldiers should review personal information, rating-chain details, duty descriptions, supporting documents, and previous evaluations before the command begins its assessment.

EESArmy provides general informational guidance for Army personnel. It is not an official Army government portal, so official unit instructions, Army regulations, and your servicing administrative office remain the controlling sources for requirements and deadlines.

Know What Command Review Covers

A command evaluation may examine the quality and timeliness of your evaluation reports, the consistency of your duties and achievements, and your progress toward professional goals. Leaders can also identify gaps involving counseling, awards, schools, medical readiness, records, or administrative actions.

Start by identifying the evaluation period and the report type involved. An NCOER, OER, and AER have different rating structures and supporting expectations. Confirm your assigned rater, senior rater, duty position, and rating dates before reviewing the content of the file.

Build a Complete Evaluation Record

Gather documents that support the work you performed during the rating period. These may include counseling statements, award recommendations, course completion certificates, physical fitness results, weapons qualification records, deployment information, command-directed accomplishments, and measurable mission outcomes. Arrange them by date so the progression of your performance is easy to understand.

Your record should also reflect major changes in duty position, organizational assignment, or temporary responsibilities. If you have separated from service or need employment documentation, review the process for obtaining a certified DD-214 copy, since separation records are separate from the active evaluation workflow.

Avoid adding unsupported claims or vague descriptions. A strong achievement statement identifies the action, the result, and the benefit to the team, unit, or mission. Numbers, completion rates, inspections, personnel trained, funds protected, or operational improvements can make legitimate accomplishments easier to verify.

Check EES Access and Personal Data

Before a command review begins, log in to EES and inspect the information displayed in your profile. The EES login page can help you locate the system, but access problems may require assistance from your unit administrator, S1, or local help desk.

Check your name, rank, branch, organization, duty title, and contact information. Compare the rating-chain information with your current orders or unit records. A wrong supervisor, missing intermediate rater, incorrect duty title, or inaccurate rating period can delay the report and create confusion during the command review.

Review the status of each evaluation carefully. A report marked as draft, referred, signed, rejected, or complete requires different action. Save copies of relevant correspondence and note the date when corrections or signatures were requested.

Match Documents to Your Evaluation Type

The supporting file should fit the type of evaluation under review. An NCOER generally emphasizes leadership, competence, character, presence, intellect, development, and achievement. An OER focuses on officer attributes, competencies, responsibilities, and potential. An AER may document a specific academic or training experience.

Evaluation record	Key items to verify	Useful supporting evidence
NCOER	Rater profile, duty description, counseling, senior-rater information	Team results, leader development, readiness gains, awards
OER	Assigned duties, officer responsibilities, rater and senior-rater chain	Mission effects, staff products, decisions, command or organizational impact
AER	Course dates, academic status, evaluator information, report purpose	Grades, completion records, instructor comments, training achievements

Check that the language in the report matches the period being evaluated. Achievements from an earlier assignment should not be presented as though they occurred during the current rating period. Likewise, accomplishments completed after the closing date may belong in a future report.

Review Performance Evidence and Rater Information

Read every section for consistency. Your duty description should explain the role you actually performed, while the narrative should connect your responsibilities to outcomes. Look for repeated wording, unexplained gaps, unsupported ratings, and claims that do not match your documentation.

The rater profile can provide important context for an NCOER. Before discussing rating concerns, review this guide to understanding the rater profile. A profile review does not determine the outcome of your evaluation, but it can help you understand how assessments are distributed and why accurate documentation matters.

Use the evaluation counseling process to address factual errors professionally. Focus on dates, duties, measurable results, and policy-based concerns rather than personal disagreements. Keep copies of your statements and supporting records according to unit procedures.

Fix Gaps Before Routing

Resolve administrative errors as early as possible. Ask the appropriate S1, rating official, or EES administrator how to correct missing documents, incorrect rating-chain entries, duplicate reports, or failed routing actions. Do not assume that a report will automatically move forward after you sign it.

Make sure your evaluation file is readable and organized. Use clear file names, consistent dates, and a logical order for attachments. If the command uses a local checklist or suspense tracker, compare your packet against it before submission.

If you disagree with an evaluation, follow the official Army process for comments, acknowledgment, rebuttal, or appeal. Signing an evaluation generally acknowledges receipt rather than indicating complete agreement, but local guidance and governing policy should determine your next step.

Final File Readiness Checklist

Use a final review shortly before the command suspense date. A second check can catch changes made after your first review, especially when multiple administrators or rating officials have handled the file.

• Confirm the evaluation type, rating period, duty title, and rating chain.
• Verify personal data and organizational information in EES.
• Match accomplishments to dated supporting documents.
• Review counseling records, awards, schools, and readiness evidence.
• Save permitted copies of the final report and related correspondence.

Once the file is accurate, submit required comments or signatures within the established timeline and retain proof of completion. Continue monitoring the evaluation status until your unit confirms that routing and filing are complete. Preparing early gives you time to correct records, document legitimate achievements, and approach the command review with a reliable administrative file.