Army Counseling can be difficult, get your answers here
Counseling Forms and Regulation NCOER
Counseling Packet OER
Course Process
Examples Refuse or Disagree
How-To and Guides Types of Counseling
Initial Counseling
What is Army Counseling, why is it important, and what is the purpose?
Army counseling means a form of mentorship that is used to guide each Soldier. DA Form 4856 is the official form for counseling junior enlisted members. Army counseling is important because it allows the leader to inform Soldiers of important information, areas of improvement, and areas to sustain. The form also provides promotion board members with performance and potential assessments.
What happens if you get a counseling statement in the Army?
Every Soldier is supposed to receive counseling regularly from their supervisor. Counseling forms can be used in several ways from acknowledging positive behavior, changing bad behavior, guiding the Soldier to make changes, or helping them meet goals.
If you are an Army counseling writer, this is your Army counseling website.
Counseling Forms and Regulation
What regulation covers the Army Developmental Counseling Process?
ATP 6-22.1 doctrine is the Army counseling regulation that covers the counseling process. This regulation covers negative counseling as well as the entire counseling process.
AR 600-8-19 covers required counseling that must be conducted in conjunction with promotion and reduction in rank.
AR 600-20 directs leaders to conduct counseling and leaves the frequency of counseling up to the commander.
What is the Army counseling policy and how often must counseling be done?
Counseling is required of leaders and occurs at prescribed times according to AR 600-20. A timeline to counsel juniors is no longer specified in hard regulation but is left up to the commander. In AR 600-8-19 promotion and reduction regulation, there is a requirement to provide monthly counselings to justify a promotion or reduction.
Counseling for promotion is covered in AR 600-8-19-
First-line leaders will formally counsel Soldiers, in writing, who are eligible for promotion to PV2 through SPC without a waiver (fully qualified) but not recommended for promotion. This counseling requirement also applies to all Soldiers who are boarded (fully qualified in the PZ) but not integrated into the promotion recommended list after having appeared before a promotion board. Counseling will take place initially when the Soldier attains eligibility, and at least every 3 months thereafter, and include information as to why the Soldier was not recommended and what the Soldier can do to correct deficiencies or qualities that reflect a lack of promotion potential.
What is the Army counseling form?
The DA Form 4856 is the official Army counseling form which is also used for negative counseling.
Fillable Developmental Counseling template PDF file
Army Counseling Continuation Form
Counseling Packet
Counseling Packet Templates
These packet templates include Army counseling trackers, army counseling logs, and army counseling packets.
Course
We are in the process of making a course, if you have something specific you'd like to see in it, let us know.
Examples
What Are Some counseling Examples?
Army Counseling Examples
Individual Army Event-Oriented Counseling Files
1. Absence for Annual Training Army Counseling
2. Absence from Battle Assembly Army Counseling
3. Absence from Place of Duty Army Counseling
4. Alcohol Abuse (other than DUI) Army Counseling
5. Annual Dental - Failure to Schedule Army Counseling
6. Annual Dental - Need to Schedule Army Counseling
7. APFT Failure (Diagnostic) Army Counseling
8. APFT Failure (Record 1st Time) Army Counseling
9. APFT Failure (Record 2nd Time) Army Counseling
10. ASAP Failure Army Counseling
11. ASAP Failure - Self Referral Army Counseling
12. Bar to Continued Service Counseling (Initiation)
13. Bar to Continued Service Counseling (Review)
14. Body Composition Counseling (Completion)
15. Body Composition Counseling (Follow-up)
16. Body Composition Counseling (Unsatisfactory Progress)
17. Dereliction of Duty Counseling
18. Disobeying Lawful Order Counseling
19. Disrespect To Officer Or NCO Counseling
20. Driving Under Influence Counseling
23. Ethics or Conflict of Interest Counseling
24. Failure-to-Report Army Counseling
25. Failure-to-Use-Chain-of-Command Army Counseling
26. False Statement Counseling
27. Family Care Plan Counseling
28. Flag-Action-Lifted Army Counseling
29. Fraternization or Inappropriate Relationship Counseling
30. Government Credit Card Debt Counseling
31. Government Property Loss or Damage Counseling
32. Government Vehicle Misuse Army Counseling
33. Hazing and Bullying Counseling
35. Improper-Inappropriate-Relationships
36. Indebtedness and Bad Check Counseling
38. Information Security Violation Counseling
40. Missing-Scheduled-Appointment Army Counseling
41. Negligent Discharge Counseling
42. No Contact Order Counseling
43. Nonsupport Of Dependents Counseling
44. Off-Duty-Employment Army Counseling
45. Other Misconduct Counseling
46. Overweight-Initial Army Counseling
47. Overweight-Monthly Army Counseling
48. Overweight-NCOES Army Counseling
49. Professional Growth Counseling
50. Promotion Nonselection Counseling
51. Promotion Screening Counseling
52. Reception and Integration Counseling
53. Record-APFT-Failure Army Counseling
54. Safety Violation Counseling
56. School Screening Counseling
57. Sexual Harassment Counseling
58. Soldier-Debt-Issues Army Counseling
How-To and Guides
How to do Army Counseling?
We have made these Army Counseling guides to walk through each step in the counseling process. Follow along with these Army counseling training PowerPoints.
Part I, Counseling using DA 4856, filling out the form this post is an Army Counseling How-To guide that takes you step by step through the correct way of filling out the DA Form 4856 for Developmental Counseling.
Part II, Strategies for conducting a counseling session using DA 4856 this Army Counseling guidance is provided by Senior NCOs and includes approaches to counseling, developing a plan of action using SMART goals, and positive event-oriented counseling sessions.
Part III, Special considerations, resources, and references for Army counseling this is the final part of our Army Counseling NCOPD series. It discusses special considerations for different counseling sessions and then provides resources and references needed for addressing the situation you are dealing with.
What is the Army Counseling magic bullet?
Below are few examples for the Army UCMJ magic bullet also known as the counseling silver bullet, counseling golden bullet, and counseling magic bullet.
From JAG:
(IF PENDING DISCIPLINARY ACTION: Due to your misconduct, [written reprimand] [administrative reduction] [bar to reenlistment] [nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ] [court-martial] [__________________] will be initiated. Under AR 600-8-2, a flag will be imposed & remain in effect until disciplinary action is completed, prohibiting actions such as awards, promotions and schools.)
(FOR ENLISTED ONLY: If you are an Enlisted Soldier, you may also be administratively reduced in rank for unsatisfactory participation in accordance with AR 600-8-19, Paragraph 10-17, and may be barred from reenlistment under AR 140-111, paragraph 1-31. Finally, while discharge is pending, a flag will be imposed under AR 600-8-2. All favorable personal actions, including awards, promotion, reclassification, and schools, will be suspended. The flag is not imposed as a disciplinary action, but is required when discharge is pending.)
Continued unprofessional conduct may result in administrative action (written reprimand, remedial training, or bar to reenlistment or administrative reduction [if Enlisted]); nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ with possible loss of pay and liberty (and rank if Enlisted); or court-martial with possible confinement and loss of pay (and rank if Enlisted). Continued behavior may also result in discharge under (RESERVE ENLISTED: AR 135-178, Chapter 9 (unsatisfactory performance) or Chapter 12 (misconduct)) (ACTIVE ENLISTED: AR 635-200, Chapter 13 (unsatisfactory performance) or Chapter 14 (misconduct) (OFFICER: professional or moral dereliction under AR 135-178, paragraph 2-12i (Reserve) or AR 600-8-24, paragraph 4-2b (Active)). The type of discharge may be General (Under Honorable Conditions) or Other Than Honorable, based on the type of discharge and your record of service. Any discharge that is less than Honorable may subject you to substantial prejudice in civilian life. If you receive an Other Than Honorable Discharge, you may be ineligible for some or all Federal and State benefits available to veterans of military service. There is NO right to automatic upgrading of any discharge. If you receive a bonus, educational benefits, or other benefits based on military service, separation prior to the end of your term of service will result in termination of entitlement to such benefits and may result in action to recoup some or all of such benefits previously paid to you. The final decision will be made by the Commander, ________________, as approval authority.
If you fail to comply with the enclosed "Plan of Action," this command may initiate action to involuntarily separate you from the service. If you are involuntarily separated, you could receive an Honorable or a General (Under Honorable Conditions) discharge, or you may be separated under Other Than Honorable (OTH) conditions. A General or OTH discharge could severely prejudice you in civilian life. Additionally, an OTH discharge could deprive you of many or all military and veterans benefits, including forfeiture of all educational benefits.
You are being counseled in accordance with AR 635-200, paragraph 1-16, for your conduct as set forth in Part II above. Due to your conduct, an involuntary discharge may be initiated for rehabilitation failure under (ENLISTED: AR 135-178, Chapter 11 [Reserve Enlisted] or AR 635-200, Chapter 9 [Active Enlisted]) (OFFICER: AR 135-175, paragraph 2-10 [Reserve Officer] or AR 600-8-24, paragraph 4-2a(7) [Active Duty Oficer]) or for misconduct outside the program under (ENLISTED: AR 135-178, Chapter 12 [Army Reserve Enlisted] or AR 635-200, Chapter 14 [Active Enlisted]) (OFFICER: AR 135-175, paragraph 2-12 [Reserve Officer] or AR 600-8-24, paragraph 4-2b [Active Officer]). Under AR 600-8-2, a flag will be imposed & remain in effect until disciplinary action is completed, prohibiting actions such as awards, promotions & schools. The type of discharge may be Honorable or General (Under Honorable Conditions), or Other Than Honorable Discharge. A less than Honorable discharge may subject you to substantial prejudice in civilian life. There is NO automatic upgrading of any discharge. If you receive a bonus or other benefits, separation before the end of your term of service will terminate of entitlement to such benefits and result in action to recoup benefits paid to you. The final decision will be made by the Brigade Commander, 5th AR BDE, as approval authority. Additionally, further misconduct may lead to other administrative action (written reprimand, remedial training, or bar to reenlistment or administrative reduction; nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, UCMJ with possible loss of pay and liberty; or court-martial with possible confinement and loss of pay and rank.
There are many more magic bullet examples in the Master Counseling Template file listed under examples.
Initial Counseling
Reception and Integration "Initial Counseling" examples PDF
See the NCOER section for initial counseling examples for NCOs
NCOER
NCO Initial Counseling and Quarterly Counseling Support
These are a few template examples that you can use for Army Quarterly Counseling Statements to be used in conjunction with the NCOER.
Counseling Process
What is the Army counseling process?
The four-stage counseling process is:
1. Identify the need for counseling
2. Prepare for counseling
3. Conduct the counseling session
4. Follow up
What are the Army counseling approaches?
Nondirective, directive, and combined.
What is Nondirective counseling?
During the counseling session and while establishing goals for the plan of action, implement recommendations. Recommend one course of action but leave the decision to accept it to the subordinate.
What is Directive counseling?
Techniques used during directive counseling include Corrective Training and Commanding.
Corrective Training- Teach and assist the subordinate in attaining and maintaining the required standard. A subordinate completes corrective training once consistently meeting standards.
Commanding- Order the subordinate to take a given course of action in clear, precise words. The subordinate will face consequences for failing to execute.
What is Combined counseling?
During the counseling session and while establishing goals for the plan of action, implement suggesting alternatives. Discuss alternative actions the subordinate may take. The leader and subordinate together decide which course of action is most appropriate.
Refuse or Disagree with Counseling Statement
What to do if you disagree with an Army Counseling Statement?
Here is the official advice from a JAG office on Fort Benning-
The Soldier cannot be forced to sign or comment on DA Form 4856. However, if you disagree with the counseling, you should sign and add your comments. If you refuse to sign, the counseling statement can still be used. The leader will annotate that you have received the DA Form 4856 and refused to sign.
If the block does not provide enough space for your comments, you may write the statement on a separate paper and attach it to the counseling form. If you are not ready to write a statement, indicate on the form that you request 24 -48 hours to draft your comments. You should disagree with any substantial facts that are incorrect on the counseling statement, such as the content, plan of action, leader responsibilities, key points of discussion, or any mistakes that may be contained in the administrative portion.
Bottom Line, if you ever have a question about your rights, contact your local legal office and ask.
What happens if you don't sign an Army Counseling Statement?
As mentioned by the legal office above, your lack of signature does not stop the counseling statement from being filed or used for action.
What to do if a Soldier refuses to sign a counseling statement?
In this case, leaders simply input something similar to below in the session closing box:
- Soldier disagreed with the counseling and refused the opportunity to prepare a written statement.
- Soldier was informed that his disagreement will not prevent the execution of the plan of action and the information discussed during this counseling session.
What can I do to rebuttal an Army Counseling?
Disagree with the information in the counseling by annotating so in the session closing box then prepare yourself a rebuttal. Ask for an appropriate amount of time to address the situation, maybe that's 24-72 hours. If the leader refuses, write that in the session closing yourself then prepare a rebuttal anyway to keep for your own records in case this issue goes somewhere. The best way to write a rebuttal is to draft a Memorandum For Record (MFR). For guidance on how to format an MFR, see AR 25-50.
Types of Counseling Statements
How many types of Army Developmental Counseling Statements are there?
There are three different Development Counseling Statements which include:
Event Counseling
Performance Counseling
Professional Growth Counseling
While these categories can help organize and focus counseling sessions, they should not be viewed as separate or exhaustive. For example, a counseling session that focuses on resolving an issue may also address improving duty performance. A session focused on performance often includes a discussion on opportunities for professional growth.
What types of counseling are there?
Event counseling categories include:
Specific instances of superior or substandard performance
Reception and Integration counseling
Crisis counseling
Referral counseling
Promotion counseling
Transition Counseling
Adverse separation counseling
This article has been made to offer Army Developmental Counseling help to anyone who needs it. If you found it helpful, please share it with others.