Many NCOs fail to close out their Counseling Statements by completing the Assessment of the Plan of Action, why is this important?

2014-02-08T18:42:24-05:00

As leaders, we are required to counsel Soldiers on a monthly basis as well as on event oriented things. I have noticed that whenever I get a new squad, the NCOs often do not do the followup portion. This is key to completing the next counseling statement as well as gives key feedback for Performance.

Response by SFC James Baber made Feb 8 at 2014 9:09 PM

2014-02-08T21:09:02-05:00

SSG Ledbetter,

One easy word, "laziness,", many of the younger NCOs of the last decade have been pushed to fast for advancement to fill the holes in units from the decade plus of dual wars and the loss of seasoned NCOs for various reasons and many have not been taught or mentored of the proper techniques or ways of doing normal garrison duties, counseling being one of them. Also in today's environment it is more about the numbers than it is sometimes about the proficiency of basics leadership, so many of the basic essentials have or are falling to the wayside, it is up to the NCOs that have the knowledge and skills to help fix the issue by mentoring and enforcing the standards to their subordinates as well as the predecessors, if possible you will need to enforce a departing NCO close out their open counseling's to ensure they are functional for the purpose and the SMs continued growth and learning as well.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 8:56 AM

2014-02-09T08:56:46-05:00

Laziness... But also lack of training. My CSM is really hammering down on this with us.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2014 9:00 AM

2014-02-09T09:00:12-05:00

This is something that needs to be taught at the JR level (SPC/CPL) on up. Many Soldiers have no idea what a closeout even is, or what its used for. Counselings are only effective if you give the feedback they are designed to give through the closeout. This goes for event oriented and Monthly counselings as well.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2014 5:04 AM

2014-03-04T05:04:47-05:00

In our Platoon it is the standard to sit down with our soldiers face to face and do the assessments together, and close out the counseling prior to moving on to the next monthly counseling.

Response by SFC Lamont Womack made May 5 at 2014 10:17 PM

2014-05-05T22:17:27-04:00

It always amazes me how some "leaders" can produce numerous negative counseling statements on Soldiers that have no actual plan of action or assessment of plan of action. Despite this obvious leadership failure, these counseling are still used to justify giving Soldiers Article 15s or punishment.

So we can punish a Soldier for not doing what they are supposed to...but we let the "leader" off the hook for not doing what they were supposed to do? When you bring this up though you get the deer with the headlight look.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 7 at 2015 1:37 AM

2015-06-07T01:37:56-04:00

Most of the NCOs that I have seen some up in the last ten years are not competent in this essential Soldier development task. Most are not mentored by their superiors and unless they have completed their NCOES, most do not know what resource provides the guidance needed. I know this dates me, but knowing the counseling FM and the different types of counseling sessions was essential to passing the E5 board.