MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Each year, thousands of Marines compete with one another for promotion to or as a staff noncommissioned officer. Ensuring fitness reports are properly and fairly completed is a key element to securing promotion. However, before a fitness report is started, a Marine Reported On worksheet must be completed.Per paragraph 1006.2 of Marine Corps Order 1610.7E, the commandant directs the use of the MRO worksheet. This worksheet is located in Appendix D of the Personnel Evaluation System and can also be downloaded from www.usmc.mil.This worksheet is vital and can benefit all parties concerned. The worksheet is a great tool for the reporting senior and Marine receiving evaluation in developing the Marine's billet description and documenting his accomplishments during the reporting period.The worksheet should be initiated by the reporting senior at the beginning of the relationship, within the first 15 days, to establish and formalize the Marine's billet description. Additionally, they must meet and review the Marine's billet description at the beginning of each new reporting period.At the end of a reporting period, the Marine should provide the reporting senior with a summary of accomplishments highlighting significant achievements, efforts and/or events, professional military education accomplishments (to include MCI completions), and other activities to include community involvement believed to be significant by the Marine. Don't forget to mention awards that would render the report as commendatory as well. Once the reporting senior receives the summary of accomplishments from the Marine, the input is considered and appropriately reflected in the fitness report.This worksheet can be used as a counseling tool as well. Billet descriptions, goals and performance standards periodically should be reviewed. The PES and the Marine Corps Counseling Program (MCO 1610.12) are separate but complementary. Leaders must counsel their Marines to transmit the guidance, performance standard and direction important for success and continuing development.The complementary relationship between the counseling process and the PES begins when the reporting senior and subordinate meet to develop the billet description. As a result, the performance evaluation process should not produce any surprises for the Marine when he receives the fitness report. Periodic performance evaluation can also help clarify the subjects on which the counseling process focuses. Keep in mind, the fitness report is not a counseling tool. Any counseling program relying on the final evaluation as a tool to force behavioral changes is without merit and must be avoided.Remember, the PES highlights past and present performance; counseling shapes future performance.According to the CMC's guidance for the PES, "the completed fitness report is the most important information component in manpower management. It is the primary means of evaluating a Marine's performance. The fitness report is the commandant's primary tool available for the selection of personnel for promotion, retention, augmentation, resident schooling, command and duty assignments. Therefore, the completion of this report is one of an officer's most critical responsibilities. Inherent in this duty is the commitment of each reporting senior and reviewing officer to ensure the integrity of the system by close attention to accurate marking and timely reporting. Every officer serves a role in the scrupulous maintenance of the evaluation system, ultimately important to both the individual and the Marine Corps. Inflationary markings serve only to dilute the actual value of each report, rendering the fitness report ineffective. Reviewing officials will not concur with inflated reports."The proper use of the worksheet and continued counseling sessions will help the reporting senior assess the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities against the understood set of requirements within assigned billet descriptions. The use of the worksheet will also ensure the accurate recording and history of the individual's performance. Sitting down with the Marine to complete the worksheet will also help avoid date gaps and overlapping dates on fitness reports. One of the biggest trends is when a Marine joins a unit: The gaining command should not start the beginning date the day the Marine joins his new command; rather, the beginning date of the new report should be the day after the Marine departs his or her last command. The gaining command, if appropriate, should also reflect any periods of non-availability on the fitness report to avoid any date gaps.The bottom line is the MRO worksheet is mandatory. If used properly, it is a great tool to ensure the accurate and timely submission of fitness reports and further ensures the Marine's file is complete and up to date.Gourlay is with the Personnel Management Support Branch, Headquarters Marine Corps.