The NCOER levels correspond to which positions?

• A. SGT, SSG-1SG, CSM
• B. SGT, SSG-2SG, CSM
• C. PFC, SGT, MSG
• D. SPC, SSG, CSM

Answer: (A)

In the NCOER process, the three rating positions align with the main leadership billets in the NCO chain: the Rater, the Senior Rater, and the Reviewing Official. The Rater is the immediate supervisor who directly oversees the NCO being evaluated, typically a Sergeant who leads at the squad or platoon level. The Senior Rater is the next higher-level supervisor, usually a Staff Sergeant or a First Sergeant, who can assess broader performance and potential across a larger scope. The Reviewing Official is the most senior enlisted leader in the unit’s chain, commonly a Command Sergeant Major, who provides the final enlist­ed-level perspective on the NCO’s performance. This structure is why the levels are mapped to SGT, SSG-1SG, and CSM.

The other options mix in ranks or billets that don’t follow the standard rating chain (such as a non-existent rank like SSG-2SG, or junior ranks like PFC/SPC in roles that require higher-level insight), so they don’t fit the established sequence.