The thesis seeks to answer the primary question, "Does the Army effectively capture an officer's potential for promotion, command, or future assignments using the OER as the document of record?" The research applies grounded theory to examine and analyze previous research and studies conducted on the effectiveness of the Officer Evaluation Reporting System. The thesis concludes with a recommendation to change the criteria that senior raters should use to evaluate an officer's potential. The research found that senior raters need a more precise definition for potential. Additionally, the research will show the benefit of using the Army's Leadership Requirements Model to measure officer potential.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)