Do you believe counseling soldiers has better results than making them do PT?

I was old school and got smoked and it does make a difference in attitude

Kicking them out should be a last resort but I would start with counseling first then pt then ass beating then out the door

I retired back in 2009. In my last 10 years, there was major downward spiral of discipline in the lower ranks. Smoke sessions were very rare. As an NCO, it was my job to initially counsel soldiers and lay down the standards of performance. I explained what counselings were comprised of, both positive and negative, and the impact they have on future evaluations and promotions. NCO's, do your self a favor and document, document, document. This is your tool for evaluating soldiers. Yes, its a full time job. I was always for affecting somebody's time and pay both positive and negative (extra duty, day pass etc). It was up to the individual to decide on his/her career progression.

I personally would have liked both pt and smoke sessions but my 1sg wanted to kick out everyone e7 and below before he pcs to Korea

It all starts at Basic Training. They take it easy on the recruits in order to make their quota numbers and it goes downhill from there.

While a good smoke session is a sure-fire way to knock some sense into a bullheaded private and sorely miss those days, I have found taking their free time and filling it with menial tasks or writing essays is a much more effective punishment. I’m old school but find better training value in a 500 word essay on the real world, military consequences for not following orders or reporting to their first line leader every 30 minutes to reinforce punctuality; my personal favorite is getting ridiculous with tie-downs to EVERYTHING like laces to boots and belts to pants. That being said, it’s like banning enhanced interrogation techniques, if they know you can’t utilize a proven technique it only emboldens bad behavior

No. I hated paper pushing ncos. Mainly because these ncos would find any reason what so ever to write your ass up. Also, why are the majority of individuals replying e-5 and above? If you want the truth it needs to come from e-4 and below. Otherwise your arguing semantics.

I think smoke sessions are good for discipline. Counseling has its place but discipline can never be compromised at the expense of hurting someone's feelings are making them sweat a little. I am afraid we are becoming a Nation of Wussies.

No

Smoke ‘em!