Navy Eval Writing Tool for Sailors and Chiefs

What the EVAL is and who writes it

The Navy evaluation report, or eval, rates enlisted Sailors. Junior Sailors and petty officers receive an enlisted eval, while chief petty officers are rated on a separate Chief evaluation with its own expectations. The reporting senior signs the eval, usually from drafts written by the Sailor's chain of command.

Navy evals pair graded performance traits with narrative comments. The comments must back up the trait grades and support the promotion recommendation, which is why the wording matters.

Sailors often transfer between commands, and a strong set of evals is what follows them. Each comment should stand on its own so that a reader at a future command or a selection board understands exactly what the Sailor did and why it mattered.

How Navy EVAL writing differs

Navy comments have a recognizable voice: short, high-energy lines, frequent use of rankings within the command, and clear promotion language. Comments should support the trait grades rather than wander into unrelated achievements.

Compared with Army bullets, Navy writing more often leads with how a Sailor ranks against peers. Compared with Air Force narratives, it accepts more Navy-specific shorthand, though plain language still reads better to selection boards.

Petty officers and chiefs are evaluated on different expectations, and the writing should reflect that. A junior Sailor's comments can focus on qualifications, watchstanding, and reliability. A first class petty officer's should show leading a work center. A chief's eval should talk about the mess, the khaki leadership role, and Sailors developed. Matching the comment to those expectations keeps strong work from reading as below grade.

How to use MilPath for your EVAL

1. In the Bullet Generator, choose Navy and the EVAL - Tailored (E1-E6) format, or Chief Eval Summary for chief petty officers.
2. Pick the block you are writing, such as trait support comments, comments on performance, or qualifications and achievements.
3. Set the rated grade group so the expectations fit the Sailor.
4. Enter the accomplishment and generate. General Eval Bullet, opening, and closing statement formats are also available.
5. Edit and route the draft through your chain of command.

Before and after examples

Illustrative only. All names, units, and numbers are fictional.

• Before: Good worker in the division.

  After: Led 6 Sailors through 300 hours of fictional preventive maintenance with zero discrepancies during the ship's material inspection.

• Before: Got his quals.

  After: Earned 3 watch qualifications in 4 months, filling a critical gap on a 1-in-3 watch rotation.

• Before: Helped with the command's sailors.

  After: As command fitness leader, guided 45 Sailors to a 98% passing rate, the best result in 2 years.

• Before: Chief did a lot for the mess.

  After: Mentored 4 first class petty officers for advancement; 2 selected for chief on the first look.

Tips

• Make sure each comment supports a graded trait.
• State rankings only when the reporting senior has approved them.
• Chief evals should focus on leading the mess and developing Sailors, not personal tasks.
• Use the opening and closing statement formats to frame the strongest message.

Frequently asked questions

Does MilPath support Chief evals?

Yes. Use the Chief Eval Summary format for chief petty officers.

Is the Navy FITREP covered here?

No. Officer fitness reports have their own FITREP format. See the Navy FITREP guide.

Can MilPath assign trait grades?

No. MilPath drafts comments only. Trait grades are decided by the reporting senior.

Are my inputs used to train AI?

No. MilPath does not use your inputs to train AI models.

Is MilPath affiliated with the Navy?

No. MilPath is independent and not affiliated with the Navy or DoD.