How to Sign an NCOER Electronically in EES

The U.S. Army Evaluation Entry System (EES) allows eligible users to review, route, and electronically sign Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Reports (NCOERs). The process replaces much of the paper-based workflow, but a successful signature still depends on accurate personal information, the correct evaluation status, and the proper order of review.

An electronic signature confirms that you have reviewed the evaluation presented to you. For a rated NCO, signing generally acknowledges receipt and review rather than agreement with every comment or rating. If you believe the report contains an error, address the concern through the appropriate chain of command before completing the signature step.

EES screens and procedures can change as Army systems are updated. Use current unit guidance and official Army instructions when they differ from general information. EES Army also publishes other EES guides covering related personnel and administrative processes.

Prepare Before Opening The Evaluation

Before signing, make sure you can access EES with an authorized Common Access Card (CAC) or another approved login method. Use a supported browser, confirm that your CAC certificates are working, and check that your computer can display the evaluation form and signature prompts correctly.

Have your identifying information and evaluation details available. You should know the rated Soldier’s name, the report period, and whether you are acting as the rated NCO, rater, senior rater, or another authorized participant. Signing the wrong evaluation can create avoidable delays in the unit’s evaluation workflow.

It is also useful to review your personnel records before completing an important administrative action. If you need to verify whether supporting documents are available in your record, follow the guidance for locating your iPERMS account before relying on those records during a review.

Open And Review The NCOER

Sign in to EES through the approved Army access point and open the evaluation assigned to you. Depending on your role, it may appear in a dashboard, task list, or workflow queue. Select the report carefully and confirm the Soldier’s name, rank, duty position, and evaluation period.

Read every section before selecting the signature option. Check the administrative data, duty description, performance comments, competencies, attributes, assessment blocks, and applicable supplementary remarks. Look for misspelled names, incorrect dates, missing duty information, unsupported claims, or comments that do not match the Soldier’s responsibilities.

The evaluation should reflect the correct report type and rating chain. If the report is incomplete or has been routed to you prematurely, do not sign simply to move it forward. Return it through the available workflow or notify the appropriate rater, senior rater, or administrator.

Complete The Electronic Signature

When the report is ready, select the electronic signature or sign action shown in the EES workflow. The system may ask you to confirm your identity, enter a PIN, select a certificate, or acknowledge a certification statement. Follow the exact prompts rather than closing the browser after reviewing the form.

A completed signature should produce a status change, confirmation message, or updated workflow entry. Save or print the confirmation if unit procedures permit it, and record the date for your files. Avoid repeatedly clicking the sign button if the system appears slow, because duplicate actions or browser timeouts can complicate the transaction.

For a rated NCO, the signature generally indicates that the report was seen and reviewed. It does not necessarily mean the Soldier agrees with the evaluation. If the Soldier refuses to sign, the authorized official normally documents the refusal according to Army policy instead of treating the missing signature as an informal deletion of the report.

EES Status	What It Usually Means	Appropriate Action
Draft or In Progress	The evaluation is still being prepared	Review only if assigned and wait for the proper routing stage
Awaiting Signature	The report is ready for your action	Verify the report, complete the electronic signature, and submit
Returned for Correction	Someone identified an issue	Read the reason, correct or discuss the issue, and review again
Signed or Completed	Your signature was accepted	Keep the confirmation and monitor the next workflow step
Rejected or Declined	The action did not complete or was not accepted	Contact the unit administrator or responsible rating official

Handle Errors Before Signing

If you find a factual or administrative error, notify the person responsible for preparing or reviewing the report. Examples include an incorrect counseling date, wrong duty title, inaccurate assignment information, or comments copied from another evaluation. Explain the issue clearly and provide documentation when appropriate.

Substantive disagreements require a more careful approach. A rated NCO should use the chain of command and applicable evaluation appeal procedures rather than altering the report independently. The electronic signature itself does not replace a formal appeal, rebuttal, or request for correction.

If EES does not display the report, the signature button is unavailable, or the system returns an error, capture the error message and note the time. Then contact the local S1, evaluation administrator, or designated system support channel. Avoid creating a second evaluation unless an authorized official directs you to do so.

Confirm The Record After Signing

After signing, return to the dashboard or task list and verify that the evaluation no longer appears as awaiting your action. A successful signature should move the report to the next stage, such as rater review, senior rater review, or administrative completion. The exact status depends on your role and the unit’s workflow.

Check that the displayed status matches what you intended to do. A browser closing before submission may leave the report unsigned even if you reviewed every page. If the status remains unchanged, sign in again and inspect the task rather than assuming the action was recorded.

Keep any permitted confirmation, downloaded copy, or email notification with your personal administrative records. If the completed evaluation later needs to be located in an official personnel file, the responsible records process may be separate from EES. EES is a workflow system, while iPERMS and other repositories may handle long-term document storage.

Avoid Common Administrative Delays

Electronic signatures are usually straightforward when the evaluation is accurate and routed correctly. Delays often result from expired credentials, an incorrect certificate selection, incomplete report sections, a disconnected CAC reader, or a signature completed by the wrong participant.

The following practices can reduce problems during the NCOER signature process:

• Confirm the evaluation period, report type, and rating chain before signing.
• Review every page, including administrative data and supplementary remarks.
• Use the required CAC certificate or approved authentication method.
• Wait for a confirmation or status change after submitting the signature.
• Report technical errors promptly to the unit administrator or S1.

Related Army administrative actions may use different forms and systems. For example, a request involving lost or damaged equipment follows a separate process, such as the guidance for submitting an AER request. Treat each process according to its own instructions instead of assuming that an EES signature completes every related personnel action.

Reviewing an NCOER carefully before signing protects the integrity of the evaluation record and helps the report move through the rating chain without unnecessary rework. Access EES through an approved channel, verify the report details, complete the electronic signature only after review, and retain evidence that the action was accepted.