As a fairly new NCO, am I supposed to give my soldiers initial and monthly counsellings (PSG is asking for monthly)?

Wow how much has changed since the 60’s back then it was very simple. “You want my boot up your ass?” That’s the counseling we got that was oral the rest was “pantomime “. Best of all it worked. Please no reply’s about how the world has changed since then. It’s one of the reasons why we die. Just can’t take it any more

It was always a rare thing to receive a monthly counseling, my unit was more focused on mission than any soldiers morale. I think there should be a balance between mission and soldier morale, but in ADA that is not the case.

Yes. And just get used to it.

Okay put the regulations to the side for one moment. I worked for a fortune 500 for almost a decade prior to joining the Army (at 29yrs old) and a few other pior to that. In the private sector I received annaul reviews and that was it. Unless you were a poor performer, in which case you would get 3 written warnings prior to termination. Now, when dealing with Soldiers most have little life or work experience, counseling is a must. After 11 yrs later of Active Federal Service with 8 yrs of that being in the NCO Corps I've yet to receive a regular monthly or "quarterly" counseling which is the wrong answer; before you say anything I've asked for them several times throughout the years (changed command 4 times same result). As an NCO I believe counseling is very important and I'm very careful to follow the regulatory guidance put out in AR and DA pam. However, I can't help but think that is being inundated with paperwork reducing my effectiveness to lead my Soldiers. As a leader (not mentioning command) we are tasked with managing everyone's daily activities to the last minute of the day. We average 11 hrs days 5 to 6 days a week. Family life is put on the back burner and our mission never ends, never takes a break and never get easier (I've lost 26 days or use or lose). I would rather spend my time in the field with my soldiers honing their skills and pushing their performance to the next level. But the intensity of the micro management from higher (daily reports, hourly up dates, AAR, mandatory training, system disciplines, counselings and the mission itself) is stifling. Reflecting back I can understand way my command never really counseled me regularly. But a an SNCO I wake up every day wanting to be the Leader I never had. Everyday is a new challenge and everyday I refuse neglect my Soldiers and my responsibilities. Do the right thing counsel, mentor and train your Soldiers and lead by example of what to do. Will you have late nights or early mornings, yes but your Soldiers deserve nothing less.

Here's the thing about monthly performance counseling, they're no longer utilized properly. I was prior service and after a long break I went back to the army, as an e4 I was following up counseling with how my guys have progressed since last month. I can't tell you how many new ncos would tell me that wasnt necessary, that they never kept track of the things their Joe's did throughout the month. It's incomprehensible

As a combat veteran, I can understand monthly, or even quarterly counseling if the unit actually does anything that would make the soldier stand out in the garrison life. But nobody cares about paperwork while deployed. We are too busy killing.

Council as much as you can. It gives your soldiers a motive for improving things they may have failed to do the past month or week. Stress that they better themselves. When you council it looks good on you as well that you are in your soldier's shit.

What is A and what is B?

Keep lines of communications open with subordinates.

Are we really asking that question... Yesss Sgt you do. Your first initial counseling is tell that soldier what you expected out of that soldier and letting that soldier know what they should expect from you after the rest is history! Your job as an NCO or E5 is to lead, train and inspect that’s all you do. Written monthly counseling is part of job description as a Noncommissioned Officer.