At the start of the rating period, what must the rater NCO provide?

• A. The NCO's personal resume and medical records
• B. Only the unit's mission
• C. A copy of the rated NCO's and senior rater's support forms, along with the unit's mission, valid rating chain, duty description, and specified goals and objectives.
• D. The previous rating period report

Answer: (C)

At the start of the rating period, the rater NCO needs to set up a clear, aligned foundation for the upcoming performance assessment. This means providing the rated NCO with the key documents and information that establish what is expected and how success will be measured. Specifically, the rater should supply copies of both the rated NCO’s and the senior rater’s support forms, plus the unit’s mission, the valid rating chain, the duty description, and the specified goals and objectives. These items ensure everyone understands the unit’s purpose, who is in the rating chain, what duties the NCO is responsible for, and how performance will be evaluated and developed over the period. They also give both parties the official inputs that guide coaching and the rating process from the outset.

Why the other options don’t fit: a personal resume and medical records are private, irrelevant to the rating period setup, and not required. Providing only the unit’s mission leaves out essential context like who reviews and approves ratings, what duties are expected, and what goals to achieve. The previous rating period report is not the foundational materials needed at the start of a new period, though it may be consulted later for reference.