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

You counsel to help them understand what they need to do to correct their weakness and how to correct it.

Youth today trun their heads n eyes up when you counsel them which tells me they could give a damn if what you’re saying. They are trained at home that they are right n special. Unfortunately this mentality can be frustrating. Smoking the whole squad causes the ones always causing this action to pressure them to tighten their shot group or the squad will take matters into their own hands when the NCO is not present.

Counseling does nothing it's just more paperwork

No. We see the changes that are taking place with the lack of proper training. It should include PT. Lots of it!!

1. PT is great for minor things; talking in ranks, gear unbuttoned, headgear not straight, etc. 2. Counseling statements give (1) both sides protection (2) state problem and corrections (3) can be used to build a case for tossing someone, as well as recommending them for advancement. 3. Punishment must fit the crime- late- weekend inspections, field layouts, drill and ceremonies- forget gear- field layouts, reciting Roberts Ranger Orders, etc. Digging latrines to spec, fighting positions to spec, weapon maintenance, room maintenance- the possibility is almost endless. 4. When someone is being corrected, someone from his chain of command, must be there supervising it directly. This ensures the SM gets the message and his supervisor gets the message. 5. It costs a lot of money to train folks- unless it drugs (our CO automatically fried them) it best to try to upgrade those you have- those that are worthless, or not cost effective can go flip burgers on the street.

Depends on the soldier. Some soldiers are like dumb dogs, you can spank them for pissing on the carpet but they will do it again without hesitation. Those guys need counseling so Jag sees the paper trail and boots them. Then some soldiers are like young impressionable scholars who take your ass chewing and smoke session personally and strive to be the best like John Parr’s number 1 hit single St. Elmo’s Fire. Leaders need to know their soldiers and figure out which ones recruiters let in for that badass NCOER and which ones want to be in for the greater good of humanity. But never forget you need dumbass dogs to storm a hill and to not shoot till you see the whites of their eyes..... No scholar isngonna so that. They will 86 that order.

SGT Andrew Dejesus I am all for smoke sessions and counselings. I haven't seen either going away. The issue though of trying to kick someone out is you need paperwork so you need to do the counselings. However, I have still seen smoke sessions of entire platoons to keep them in check. Not sure where/why they are going away.

Depends on the person if they have a personal reason for their disciplinary problems counseling may help if it's a attitude problem then pt might wake them up if that doesn't work discharge them. Bad attitudes can take the whole units moral down, thin skin is not good in the military

I spoken with many young man who recently completed basic training. It sounds like daycare. I’m sure they pick up skill sets necessary to defend our country. But it seems they are soft and weak

Dicipline is learned quicker by adversity than by counseling with a touchy, I feel your pain college educated useless fool looking for an easy carreer. Break the recruit down, rebuild him as a combat Infantryman first, then train him or her to be a functioning warrior in the specialty they test out to be successful in learning.