What do to if your supervisor delays or doesn't provide you with an initial counseling?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 19:07:52 -0400

You are in a new position and you find yourself in a great working relationship with your supervisor/rater. Things could not be better. You ask for your initial counseling and repeatedly, your requests are forgotten and promises are never fulfilled. What do you do?

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 7:10 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 19:10:28 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member, something similar to your scenario has happened to me many (MANY) times while on active duty and as a DA civilian. What do I do? I soldier on and let it go. It may not be the right thing to do, but it works. "Pencil whipping" counseling sessions (/dates) was a standard part of my military career, but only when I was the person who should have received the counseling. I retired in 2006, and I hope that things have improved since then, but I am guessing that what I experienced, and what you described, is still a fairly standard practice.

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 7:14 PM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 19:14:40 -0400

Regs. state take it up the chain it's the only recourse you have, after all if you go for a promotion paperwork like that is necessary.

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Oct 25 at 2014 7:21 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 19:21:51 -0400

Ask to put it on the calendar. It's tough to forget or neglect to do it if you have a meeting setup for it. Try saying something like "Sir, I want to make sure we don't forget to schedule my initial counseling. Can we do it next Wednesday or Thursday? Let's lock a time in now on our calendars for it."

Scenario 1: He agrees to a time, but then doesn't have the counseling ready... then I think you have an issue. Before escalating the issue, I would ask him for a new time and get it on the calendar again. If this becomes a repeated problem, I would tactfully address it directly as something you would never do to your own subordinates, and that you feel he is not setting the right tone for your own relationship.

Scenario 2: He says "nah, don't worry about scheduling it. We'll get to it later." I would reply by insisting to get it on the calendar. Perhaps quote your unit's policy on initial counseling... "Sir, based on the commander's guidance, we must complete the counseling by XYZ date. I do this with all my Soldiers, and would really like to make sure we can adhere to the commander's policy." If he is not responsive to this, then you should seek out advice from a trusted E-9 in your command, as your supervisor would just be willfully negligent of the unit's policies and apparently unwilling to do the right thing. Hopefully it won't come to that. Just putting the session on the calendar in the first place should hopefully be enough.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 7:10 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 07:10:27 -0400

SFC Galvan, many years ago I had a 1SG who told me "no one can manage your career better than you." That said, you should have a Rater and a Sr Rater - if neither of them have given you an initial counseling and you have tried to discuss this with both of them, look to your Sr Rater's rater for help. Do it as tactfully as possible to preclude blowback. You should frame it as important for not only your professional advancement but your rater and Sr Rater as well.

It's a careful dance that you have to do. There have been a few times over the years that I have let it slide but no longer than 2 quarters of a rating period. Remember, great relationships can tank in an instant and then you are stuck with an initial counseling that makes you sound like the biggest piece of dookey in the unit.

Response by SFC Carlton Crider made Oct 27 at 2014 12:23 PM

SFC Carlton Crider — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 12:23:16 -0400

Write the thing yourself and hand it to the idiot, tell him/her I did not get this here is an example.