DA Form 2166-9-1A: The NCOER Support Form, Explained by Paragraph

This post is the regulation’s own wording on the NCO support form, not advice on a specific report. This post covers DA Form 2166-9-1A for NCOs. It does not cover officer support forms.

// 01What the support form is

The regulation’s paragraph on the form, as it opens:

(1) Beginning of the rating period. Use of DA Form 2166-9-1A is mandatory during counseling of all NCOs, CPL through CSM. The purpose of the DA Form 2166-9-1A is to improve counseling by providing structure and discipline to the process described in ATP 6-22.1 and DA Pam 623-3. AR 623-3, ¶3-7b(1)

Our reading of ¶3-7b(1): the support form is the counseling record for the rating period, not paperwork that trails the NCOER. It records the conversation that sets the standard the NCOER later measures against.

// 02Who fills what

The pamphlet’s process paragraph, ¶3-1b(1)(a):

Shortly after the rated NCO assumes his or her duties, the rater provides the rated NCO with a copy of their and the senior rater’s support form (DA Form 2166-9-1A or DA Form 67-10-1A, or equivalent and as applicable) along with the unit’s mission, valid rating chain, duty description, and specified goals and objectives. The rated NCO then drafts his or her DA Form 2166-9-1A (duty description (part III), performance goals and expectations (part IV), and major performance objectives (part V)). DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-1b(1)(a), p.77

The regulation’s rater paragraph for the DA Form 2166-9 series, ¶3-7b(1)(a):

The rater will conduct a face-to-face counseling session with the rated NCO and initiate DA Form 2166-9-1A within the first 30 days of the rating period. This initial discussion will establish duties, responsibilities, and performance objectives for the rated NCO on DA Form 2166-9-1A. AR 623-3, ¶3-7b(1)(a), p.40

From the senior rater paragraph, ¶2-14d(2):

(2) Review and initial the DA Form 2166-9-1A at the beginning of the rating period and sign the completed NCOER at the end of the rating when preparing their portion of the NCOER. AR 623-3, ¶2-14d(2)

And from the rater paragraph, ¶3-7b(2)(b):

As a rated NCO’s duty description, objectives, or focus areas change throughout the rating period, the rater will counsel the rated NCO and update the DA Form 2166-9-1A appropriately. AR 623-3, ¶3-7b(2)(b), p.40

Our reading of ¶3-1b(1)(a), ¶3-7b(1)(a), ¶2-14d(2) and ¶3-7b(2)(b): initiating the form and drafting its parts are two different actions. The rater initiates DA Form 2166-9-1A, provides copies of the rater’s and senior rater’s support forms with the mission, rating chain, duty description and objectives, counsels, and updates. The rated NCO drafts parts III, IV and V. The senior rater reviews and initials at the beginning.

// 03When: the initial counseling

The 30-day sentence for NCOs, ¶3-7b(1)(a), is quoted in section 02. Appendix G, ¶G-2a, is quoted here:

a. For TPU, DIMA, and drilling IRR Soldiers, the initial counseling session will be conducted at the first available drill (within 30 days whenever possible). Follow-up counseling for IRR Soldiers will be conducted when performing an active duty tour for more than 180 days or when attached for IDT for more than 180 days. AR 623-3, ¶G-2a

Our reading of ¶3-7b(1)(a) and ¶G-2a: the first sets the first 30 days for NCOs generally; the second sets the first available drill for TPU, DIMA and drilling IRR Soldiers, with 30 days as the goal when possible.

// 04How often: the follow-up cadence

The regulation’s follow-up sentence, ¶3-7b(2)(a):

(a) Raters will conduct follow-up counseling sessions quarterly for Regular Army and AGR NCOs and at least semiannually for USAR TPU, DIMA, and drilling IRR NCOs and ARNG NCOs (in accordance with apps G and H). AR 623-3, ¶3-7b(2)(a)

The pamphlet’s process paragraph, ¶3-1b:

b. Process. DA Form 2166-9-1A use is mandatory for all NCOs, corporal (CPL) through command sergeant major (CSM); however, no NCOER is prepared for CPLs. Counseling sessions will be conducted at least quarterly for RA and AGR NCOs and at least semiannually for ARNG and USAR NCOs performing inactive duty training (IDT). DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-1b

Our reading of ¶3-7b(2)(a) and ¶3-1b: quarterly for Regular Army and AGR NCOs; at least semiannually for the Guard and Reserve statuses named. Every interval is a floor; neither publication caps frequency. The AR names statuses; the PAM says “performing inactive duty training (IDT).” Neither defines that phrase, so we quote both.

// 05How the support form feeds NCOER Part III

The pamphlet’s NCOER instruction for Part III, block c, Table 3-3:

Use the present tense to identify what the rated NCO is supposed to do in his or her duty position. Unless changes occurred during the rating period, the duty description on the NCOER should be the same as the one on the DA Form 2166-9-1A. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-3, p.94

The pamphlet’s note under ¶3-1b(2):

The rater will update the duty description and, based on significant contributions and accomplishments, discuss what was done well and what could be done better. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-1b(2) Note, p.78

And the pamphlet’s ¶3-1b(3)(a):

The rater includes the duty description from the rated NCO’s final DA Form 2166-9-1A and may use information from this form as input when completing the NCOER, the choice of what to enter on the NCOER is ultimately up to the rater. DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-1b(3)(a), p.79

Our reading of Table 3-3, block c and ¶3-1b(3)(a), limited to the duty description: the rater carries it from the final support form into the NCOER, and the two should read the same unless changes occurred during the rating period. The rest of the support form is input; the choice of what to enter on the NCOER is the rater’s.

// 06The counseling dates block on the NCOER

The pamphlet’s NCOER instruction for Part II, block d1, Table 3-2:

Enter the actual dates of counseling as documented on DA Form 2166-9-1A (YYYYMMDD). When counseling dates are omitted, the senior rater will enter a statement in part V, block b explaining why counseling was not accomplished. The absence of counseling will not be used as the sole basis for an appeal. However, the lack of counseling may be used to help support other claims made in an appeal. DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-2, p.93

Our reading of Table 3-2: the entry is the actual dates of counseling as documented on the support form, in YYYYMMDD; when counseling dates are omitted, the senior rater enters a statement in Part V, block b.

// 07A worked example: a new SSG section chief

Most readers ask for an example, so here is one. The unit, the numbers and the wording are invented and the Soldier is not a real person.

// 08Three readings, each pointing at a passage above

Our readings, not claims about how any office processes a report.

• Leaving the dates blank. Our reading: when counseling dates are omitted, the senior rater owes a statement in Part V, block b, and the absence of counseling is not the sole basis for an appeal (DA PAM 623-3, Table 3-2, section 06).
• Skipping the form for corporals. Our reading: the form is mandatory for CPL through CSM while no NCOER is prepared for CPLs (DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-1b, section 04).
• Treating the support form as a draft NCOER. Our reading: the pamphlet makes it input, with the choice of what to enter left to the rater (DA PAM 623-3, ¶3-1b(3)(a), section 05).

// 09Check the source

Every passage above is from AR 623-3 (14 February 2025), paragraphs 2-14d, 3-7b and G-2a, and DA PAM 623-3 (12 February 2025), paragraph 3-1 and Tables 3-2 and 3-3, both free on the Army Publishing Directorate. If this page and the publication ever disagree, the publication wins, and we want to know.

From BulletForge: the DA 4856 counseling generator drafts the session record from what you observed, and the app’s journal keeps each Soldier’s counseling dates in one place. Both are product notes, not regulation.

← Back to The Field Manual