If  the  member  desires  to  make  a  statement, the  command  provides  reasonable  access  to reference material and clerical assistance on request.  Upon  receipt  of  the  member’s  statement, the  commanding  officer  and,  if  desired,  the reporting  senior  endorse  and  forward  it  to BUPERS   along   with   the   report.   Such correspondence   should   not   be   signed   “By direction.” When  the  service  member  does  not  desire  to make a statement, the evaluation report is filed in  the  field  service  record  without  further action. Petty Officers Second Class and Above. —In the  case  of  a  petty  officer  second  class  and  above, refer  an  adverse  evaluation  report  to  the  member for  comment.  The  member  should  then  respond, in writing, as to whether he or she desires to submit a statement or comment to the report. The member  does  that  by  marking  Desired  or  Not Desired  as  appropriate  on  the  evaluation  form  in block 44. If the member states he or she desires to make a statement, the evaluation report is held awaiting completion of the statement by the member. The report is held for 15 days, or longer if an extension is  requested  by  the  member  and  granted. The command must provide the member reasonable  access  to  reference  material  and  clerical assistance on request. The commanding officer and, if desired, the reporting senior sign the member’s  statement.  Again,  such  correspondence should  not  be  signed  “By  direction.”  If  the member  does  not  desire  to  make  a  statement,  the report  is  forwarded  to  BUPERS. Signature of Member The  member  must  sign  the  performance evaluation  report.   As previously stated, the member’s  signature  does  not  indicate  concurrence with  the  contents  of  the  report.  It  indicates  the member  has  reviewed  the  report  and  acknow- ledged his or her rights under article 1122 of  Navy Regulations. It also indicates the member has been given  the  opportunity  to  make  a  statement  in connection  with  the  report. Sometimes you may not be able to obtain a member’s  signature  on  the  performance  evalua- tion  report  for  the  following  reasons: 1. The member dies before he or she has the opportunity to sign the report. 2.  The  member  is  not  mentally  or  physically capable of signing the report. 3.  The  member  is  a  deserter.  (Unauthorized absence  [UA]  of  short  duration  is  not sufficient  cause  for  failing  to  obtain  the member’s  signature.  ) 4. The member refuses to sign the report. 5. The member is unexpectedly assigned to a deterrent  patrol. In those instances, the reporting command forwards  the  appropriate  copies  under  a  cover letter  giving  the  reason  why  the  member’s signature could not be obtained. Changes  and  Corrections Changes  or  corrections  to  an  evaluation  report of  petty  officers  third  class  and  below  require  two conditions. First, the report must have been completed during the member’s current enlist- ment.  Second,  the  reporting  senior  or  the commanding officer who changes it must have been serving as the commanding officer on the closing  date  of  the  report.  If  a  change  or correction  takes  place,  the  appropriate  service record  change  will  be  reflected.  However,  the change  will  not  be  used  to  recompute  a  person’s performance  mark  average  for  advancement  or eligibility for a special program. Evaluation  reports  of  petty  officers  second class  and  above  are  considered  final  when submitted to BUPERS. You may not retrieve the reports  for  destruction,  change,  or  correction. You may request correction of minor admini- strative  or  typographical  errors  or  omissions  after report  submission  by  submitting  a  letter  to BUPERS.  That  letter  will  become  a  permanent part of the member’s service record. Supplemental  Reports If  you  need  to  reassess  a  member’s  per- formance,  complete  a  supplemental  report.  The reporting senior or the commanding officer signs the supplemental report. Include a cover letter stating  the  reason  for  submission  with  the supplemental  report.  BUPERS  will  not  accept  a supplement to a report more than 2 years old. A supplemental report does not replace the original  report.  If  a  member  desires  to  have  the original report removed, he or she must petition the Board for Corrections of Naval Records. As before,  the  supplemental  report  will  not  be used to compute performance mark averages for 2-17