Ken, you'll perk up I'm sure. More at the link.

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/0...xpect-012912w/

Sergeant Major: 12 changes to expect in ’12

By Lance M. Bacon - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Jan 29, 2012 9:06:33 EST


FORT JACKSON, S.C. — It is no secret that big changes are ahead. The Army must cut thousands of soldiers. As combat operations wind down, talk of a renewed emphasis on the “profession of arms” is ramping up. Money is tight, and times are changing.

The Army is in transition — and 2012 will be its pivot point.

Sergeant Major of the Army Raymond Chandler, in an exclusive interview with Army Times, outlined many of the changes you can expect. Chandler is the first to say he doesn’t make changes. His in-depth study and careful consideration of issues leads to recommendations to the Army chief of staff and service secretary. When the subsequent order is given, Chandler will see that it is carried out. He wants what is best for his Army and its soldiers, and is determined to make both better.

Here are 12 ways he looks to do that in the coming year:

1. New NCOER

The Army will introduce a new Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report “unless something drastic happens during the next year,” Chandler said.

The top priority is to align the NCOER with leader doctrine FM6-22, specifically leader attributes and competencies. The new evaluation also will eliminate over-inflation by ranking soldiers, similar to the way officers are ranked against their peers.

The new NCOER will probably come in two versions — one for the junior population and one for the senior NCOs. Performance will have a greater focus for young soldiers while more emphasis will be placed on leadership skills as the soldier moves up the ranks.

“That’s going to really help us define who our NCO leaders are in our Army,” Chandler said.

Expect changes in how “excellence,” “success” and “needs improvement” are defined. Specifically, the two current levels of “needs improvement” — some or much — will be cut to one.

“Look, he needs improvement,” Chandler said. “Whether a little or a lot, [the soldier] is not meeting the standard. So I think with words, you can describe that better.”

Senior enlisted personnel in the company and battalion will have greater influence with the NCOER. It will give the first sergeant or sergeant major a place to acknowledge that the review is accurate and within the tenets and principles of the governing regulation.

The new NCOER will be presented to Army Secretary John McHugh and Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno in April. Chandler said he expects the Army will be implementing the new NCOER by the end of this year.