Using EES for a DA Form 2166-9-1 NCOER Support Form

A DA Form 2166-9-1 records the expectations and duties that guide an NCO during the rating period. It is commonly called the NCOER Support Form and helps the rater, senior rater, and rated NCO establish a clear performance framework before the evaluation is written.

The Evaluation Entry System, or EES, provides the online workspace for entering and routing Army evaluation documents. When used correctly, it can make the support-form process easier to track, while reducing omissions in duty descriptions, performance objectives, and administrative information.

Personnel serving in Australia may need to manage American military systems from locations such as Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, or a remote training area. Connection quality, Australian Eastern or Western time zones, and the day-month-year date habit can all create practical issues when accessing EES or checking suspense dates.

EES Army is an informational resource rather than an official government portal. Army policy, the current form version, and guidance from the unit S1 or servicing administrative office should take priority if the system display differs from a local instruction.

What the Support Form Covers

The DA Form 2166-9-1 is designed to align the rated NCO’s responsibilities with measurable expectations. It generally captures identifying information, duty position, principal duties, significant contributions, performance objectives, and areas for development. The form supports the evaluation rather than replacing the completed NCOER.

Before opening EES, identify the rating period, the rated NCO’s rank and name, the unit, and the rating chain. Confirm who is serving as rater and senior rater, particularly after a transfer, change of duty position, or temporary assignment. Incorrect rating-chain data can delay routing even when the narrative content is strong.

The support form should reflect the actual job. A platoon sergeant, section chief, recruiter, or staff NCO will need different objectives and evidence. Copying generic language from an old form can make expectations vague and may fail to show how the NCO contributes to readiness, training, welfare, accountability, or mission success.

Prepare Before Signing In

Use a current CAC-enabled computer and a supported browser. Have the NCO’s duty description, appointment orders or position information, rating-chain details, and known suspense dates available before starting. Save working notes in a secure location rather than placing sensitive information in personal cloud storage or an unsecured device.

A short planning discussion with the rater is useful before entering the form. Agree on the most important duties, the expected standard, and the evidence that will demonstrate success. For example, “improve training management” is less useful than a target involving qualified personnel, completed training events, or timely documentation.

Australian dates require particular care. A date such as 06/07/2026 is commonly read as 6 July in Australia but could be interpreted differently in a US-facing workflow. Use the format displayed by EES, verify the resulting date, and keep the rating period consistent with official personnel records.

Enter Duties and Objectives in EES

After signing in, open the evaluation or support-form function and select the option for the NCOER Support Form. Enter identifying information exactly as it appears in Army records. Avoid informal abbreviations for units, duty titles, or locations unless the form or local instruction specifically permits them.

Principal duties should explain what the NCO is responsible for, who or what is affected, and the operational purpose. Strong entries are concise but specific: they may identify personnel supported, equipment managed, training overseen, or processes controlled. Include additional duties when they materially affect the rating period.

Performance objectives should be observable and connected to the position. Useful objectives often include readiness improvements, inspection results, training completion, maintenance outcomes, administrative accuracy, leader development, or timely support to Soldiers. Make the standard clear enough that progress can be discussed during counselling.

Make Performance Evidence Useful

A support form becomes more valuable when objectives can be measured. Numbers are helpful when they are genuine and relevant, such as completion rates, qualification figures, response times, inspection results, or reductions in overdue actions. Avoid inventing targets simply to make a sentence appear stronger.

The form should also support professional growth. Identify a skill, course, leadership behaviour, or assignment experience that would help the NCO develop. Developmental goals might involve instructor certification, broadening experience, technical training, or preparation for greater responsibility.

Keep wording factual and consistent with Army expectations. Do not include protected personal information, unsupported claims, or language that belongs in a completed evaluation rather than a planning document. If a typo appears after submission, the guidance on correcting a submitted NCOER can help explain the next administrative step.

Review the Form Before Routing

Review every field before selecting a submit or route option. Check names, ranks, DoD identification details, unit information, duty title, rating period, duty description, and rating-chain roles. Read the objectives aloud or have another leader review them for clarity and measurable standards.

EES may require electronic signatures or sequential action by the rated NCO, rater, and senior rater. Monitor the workflow rather than assuming that submission means completion. A document can remain pending if a signer has not acted, if a profile issue exists, or if the record was returned for correction.

Practical Checks Before Submission

• Confirm the rating period and all dates against official personnel records.
• Verify the rater and senior-rater relationship with the unit S1.
• Check that duties and objectives match the current position.
• Remove unsupported claims, sensitive personal details, and vague wording.
• Save or print an authorised copy according to local unit procedures.

Maintain Supporting Records

The support form should be reviewed during counselling and updated when duties or priorities materially change. Keep a factual record of achievements, training, awards, inspections, and mission results throughout the rating period. A simple monthly note can make later counselling and NCOER preparation more accurate.

Supporting documents may belong in the Army personnel record rather than inside the support form itself. When authorised, follow the correct process for uploading iPERMS documents, and confirm that the file is legible, complete, and associated with the correct record.

Award documentation can also require separate verification. If an award is expected to support an evaluation or career record, use the process for viewing award records and retain only copies permitted by Army policy. Australian privacy requirements, including principles associated with the Privacy Act 1988, are relevant when storing personal information on local devices, although US Army records remain governed by applicable military rules and systems.

When working from Australia, use approved networks and avoid saving personnel files to a shared household computer or an unapproved commercial service. Local internet providers and Australian workplace routines may make after-hours access convenient, but convenience should not override cybersecurity, records-management, or command requirements. Keep the final workflow aligned with the unit’s administrative office and the official EES record.