First Initial Counseling

I remember my first counseling and I was nervous as hell.

I think, if you can, find out if your commander has his command philosophy written out, and use that as a guideline for what his points of emphasis are in the command and incorporate them into a counseling statement. Another thing that a former 1SG taught me was to write counselings in memo format, rather than on the 3856 and make sure the documents are attached. It has allowed me to be more thorough, and have a good document for reference. PM me if you'd like a copy.

And the most important thing is to frame it as a conversation, rather than a top down approach. That has always helped me. With future quarterly counselings, I always have the rated NCO bring in things that they think they've done well/improved on, and then I bring my list too and we compare.

Sir, in the early 90's I was an NCOIC of an MI LNO team for 124 MI BN, 24 ID that acted as a liaison between the MI assets and the maneuver Brigades. In the late 90's, I was the dissemination NCOIC for the SIGINT section of the USAEUR ACE in Augsburg, and then Darmstadt, Germany. In the winter of 98-99 I was the night shift NCOIC of the United States National Intelligence Center (USNIC) in Sarajevo working directly for COMSFOR. In 2006, I became a PSG for the SIGINT PLT, A Co, 4-3 BTSB, 4 BDE, 3 ID, and remained in that position for 2 years to include combat time. The one thing that I learned in all of these positions is that your enlisted and officer leadership need to work as one. Your PSG is to provide you operational guidance based on his/her experiences and knowledge, but as the officer, you make the final decision that your PSG has to ensure that is carried out. You will NOT work as a team if your PSG does not know what to expect from you nor what you expect from your PSG. It is best for that initial counselling to inform your new PSG what your expectations are and what he/she can expect from you. There are plenty of counselling examples out there to help you develop your own. Remember that your PSG can make or break your career. Don't run your PLT like a tyrant, but don't let your PSG and troops walk all over you. I had good officers and poor officers working over me; the best ones were the ones who told me what they wanted and then got out of my way to let me get it done. Good luck sir!

All great responses, my first time over 20 years ago I sat down with an NCO ER and talked about what we both thought were measures of success

Well, first you should be clear if you are doing a first or an initial counseling. Then, take CPT Forbes advice below. But don't forget to go into the conversation with a clear idea in your head of your expectations of the PSG and what the PSG is supposed to expect from you. That requires you to take the time to think through what a PSG and a PL are supposed to be doing as you understand it. That way when you do have a conversation over a blank 4856, it is a conversation rather than the PSG just telling you how its gonna be, even if he is nice about it and always remembers to say "sir". The PL and PSG have a relationship, which can be a power-team or massively dysfunctional or anywhere in between. Relationships are always built on clear expectations that are lived up to.

Honestly there are so many templates out there that are already set up for you to do Initial Counseling, so why re-create the wheel??

Work Smarter, not Harder is my Motto!! Google Initial Counseling Examples/Templates, there are so many excellent examples already there for you to plagiarize.

Cover the areas you need to cover for example suspense, formation, uniform, duties and responsibilities you expect. Make you expectations know verbally and written. Include your PSG in the counseling. If they have buy=in and stock into the counseling it will be more effective.

Vision, intent, division of work/responsibilities and Goals- personal and professional

Don’t know that I can add much to all the great comments here. As a Platoon Leader myself, one of the most important things I want to know about are issues with individual Soldiers. I assure you, your PSG is way more dialed in on this than you will ever be – nature of the beast. Beyond that, I would look at my OER Spt form, along with my CO CDR’s for important things. NCO’s will be going to the new NCOER and Spt form (like officers) before long – that should be discussed as it is… different. The NCO’s are gonna love it! I also ask to be cc’d on most all emails to the PLT so I know what is being put out. In my unit, training schedules are sent out months in advance – for our platoon, my PSG is responsible for identifying and notifying trainers for classes we are responsible for. I guess bottom line is communication between the both of you. I just got a new PSG so the timing of this topic is great! Fortunately, I know my new PSG and that he is very capable.

Lots of good advice already. Counseling w your PSG should be a two-way convo. Be an active listener and expect him/her to be as well. The two of you must work together and be a unified command of that platoon.

You should be sharing your goals; he should be sharing his assessment of the troops and where you are at, as well as recommendations for training priorities.