How to counsel for a failed ruck march?

2014-03-28T20:45:37-04:00

Don't know if I am looking in the wrong place but I am writing a counseling for a soldier who fell out of a timed 6 mile ruck march, what article does this fall under, I keep searching failing a army standard but get nothing?

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2014 3:31 PM

2014-04-03T15:31:55-04:00

You cannot perfrom UCMJ on this soildier however it does reflect bad unit morale. You can counsel the soldier on his perfromance and enroill him in a after hour PT program in order to get him to meet unit standards. But you cannot charge him a UCMJ for this the only two that apply is 2 MILE RUN for PT failure or 4 MILE RUN for maniditory army requirement.  Possible topics to discuss during counseling looks like this:
<ul>
<li>Plans to improve level of physical fitness
<li>Individual fitness plan
<li>Assessment plan
<li>Consequences of continued substandard performance
<ul>
<li>Soldier's perceptions
<li>Career implications i.e. recommendation for promotion and schooling
</li></ul>
<li>Goal timeline to achieve and maintain unit standards
<li>Tips to reach your goals
<li>Recommended facilities </li></ul> 
Possible Plan of Action:
<ul>
<li>Enroll SGT Doe in the unit's Extra Conditioning Physical Fitness Program
monitored by the unit MFT.
<li>Have SGT Doe develop an individual fitness plan IAW FM 21-20
<li>Submit physical fitness to the Platoon Sergeant for review and approval
<li>Have SGT Doe develop a dietary and proper sleep plan IAW FM 21-20
<li>Solicit peers for encouragement and support </li></ul>
Possible Leader Responsibilities:
<ul>
<li>Enroll SPC Doe in the unit's Extra Conditioning Physical Fitness Program
monitored by the unit MFT.
<li>Review individual fitness plan to verify it meets and supports SGT Doe's
goals/objectives
<li>Protect after duty hours so plan can be implemented
<li>Encourage peers to provide moral and physical support
<li>Conduct diagnostic APFT to verify progress/benefits of individual
supplemental fitness program</li></ul>

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2014 4:29 PM

2014-04-03T16:29:33-04:00

Thank you for the advice Sgt I know that you always have some great guidence

Response by SFC Stephen P. made Apr 3 at 2014 4:40 PM

2014-04-03T16:40:58-04:00

I have yet to see an Army standard for marching. If any standard exists, it is most likely local. No training failures warrant UCMJ; they warrant better training.

Is the 6 mile timed standard published in unit SOP? If not, remedial PT does not seem appropriate.

Ensure the standard is clear and published, implement training accordingly, recommend bars for those who cannot be trained.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2014 4:52 PM

2014-04-03T16:52:54-04:00

I had no intention for ucmj action I was just trying to put a article on this situation to put in the counseling I know I can't do ucmj action for this but thank you Sgt I did not think about it not being a army standard passed right over my head

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2014 5:01 PM

2014-04-03T17:01:39-04:00

Article 134, it covers areas that are not specified elsewhere but your example does not rate a charge sheet.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 3:01 PM

2015-02-07T15:01:47-05:00

A little late but it is at commander's discretion to increase the minimum PT standards based on unit requirements. So, there is the possibility that the soldier is failing to meet unit standards.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 17 at 2015 7:53 PM

2015-04-17T19:53:08-04:00

Look in:
Chapter 10, FM 7-22,
FM 21-18,
and AR 350-1

Pace is the regulated speed of a column or element that is established by the lead vehicle or an individual in the lead element to maintain the prescribed average speed. For a foot march, the normal pace is 30 inches at a cadence of 106 steps per minute.

Collectively foot march 20 km with fighting load, under 5 hours.

Response by CSM Eric Olsen made Apr 17 at 2015 8:38 PM

2015-04-17T20:38:20-04:00

First of all, kudos to you for seemingly using counseling for your soldier's improvement-instead of what some may consider "check the block" EOM counseling. Counseling in writing is such a powerful tool that should be used for the good and bad (i.e. use posi counseling when your soldier finally passes the FM).
Although not necessarily regulated by policy or regulation (hopefully SOP), I'd include in his negative counseling the exact day that you'll retest him, allowing a 2-4wk retrain period. If he/she fails the retest, I'd talk to your bosses about a bar to reenlistment, or at least requiring him to jump in your unit's special pop PT. The bar would only be incentive if this SM values their career.
Make sure you're talking to your immediate leadership all thru this process, and it's good for your soldier to see you right along side him/her as they tackle this hurdle-you won't be soon forgotten by them.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Apr 22 at 2015 6:23 PM

2015-04-22T18:23:29-04:00

SSG Private RallyPoint Member, its a good practice to do the counseling, reference the "policy or regulatory guidance" and let the lawyers figure out what article (if any) the Soldier violated....when you specify and quantify articles under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, and happen to miss an article or the violation could fit better under a different specification then you risk a couple things, your reputation & pride along with the credibility when counseling....

http://armypubs.army.mil/epubs/pdf/mcm.pdf

Response by CPT Mike Sims made Apr 29 at 2015 12:58 PM

2015-04-29T12:58:54-04:00

There is actually no regulation governing ruck sack marches. Army Regulation does cover PT requirements based on age and gender, along with medical profile exemptions. Also, there is actually NO requirement for any Soldier to pass a ruck sack march... it may be a unit requirement, but it is certainly not a testable Army requirement.

The other thing to consider is the Soldier a good performer at work, as a Soldier- and how are his normal PT scores, and what is the Soldier like out in the field. Also, has this Soldier been overseas? Did he sustain an injury? Sometimes we all have a bad day.

I once fell out of a ruck march as an NCO... the reason was because I had an injury to my hip - which was cracked - I spent too much time being a leader taking care of troops and not taking time off to take care of myself. Well, that one day - proved to be costly. I have since had 3 hip surgeries and now I tell younger troops - make it a point to listen to your body and tell your leaders when you're hurt and don't be ashamed to get a profile in order to rehab your body. The Army is just like a professional sport - and as athletes we need to be able to perform at an optimal level... the only difference is - we aren't preparing for a game, we are preparing for combat in which the lives of our fellow Soldiers depend on our ability to be healthy and fit, and a ruck sack march is not a measure of fitness, healthiness or endurance.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 29 at 2015 1:06 PM

2015-04-29T13:06:44-04:00

Was there an established order from an officer regarding the required time standard? Could, and yes, I said could be UCMJ able at the point. Check with your legal rep.

My question is do we want to turn over a Soldier to the chain of command for UCMJ when training and standards are the NCOs lane. I would suggest corrective training for this Soldier in the case that this is not a systemic problem of not meeting standards.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 4:18 PM

2015-06-23T16:18:31-04:00

107. Article 134—(Straggling)
a. Text of statute. See paragraph 60.
b. Elements.
(1) That the accused, while accompanying the accuse’s
organization on a march, maneuvers, or similar
exercise, straggled;
(2) That the straggling was wrongful; and
(3) That, under the circumstances, the conduct of
the accused was to the prejudice of good order and
discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature to
bring discredit upon the armed forces.
c. Explanation. “Straggle” means to wander away,
to stray, to become separated from, or to lag or
linger behind.
http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/mcm.pdf

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2017 7:14 PM

2017-11-04T19:14:04-04:00

Why did the soldier drop out? Was he sick or injured? A welfare inquiry has to be your first question here. Assuming he wasn’t sick, etc, then I wouldn’t write a counseling, I’d ruck march him until he met the time requirement. Misery is sometimes more effective than paperwork.