In writing E-5 evaluations, who should be the reporting senior?

The reporting senior for E-5 evaluations is the individual who holds the responsibility and authority to assess the performance of the service member in question. In this case, the Executive Officer is often designated as the reporting senior for E-5 evaluations due to their position within the command structure. The Executive Officer typically has a more direct supervisory relationship with E-5 personnel and is crucial in overseeing their day-to-day performance, which provides a comprehensive basis for the evaluation.

The Commanding Officer generally holds a higher rank and may not interact with E-5 personnel as closely on a daily basis, making the Executive Officer more suitable for providing detailed and relevant evaluations. While Department Heads and Senior Chiefs can contribute to evaluations or may have input, the structure typically favors the Executive Officer for this role due to their specific oversight and closer working relationship with the mid-level enlisted personnel.