Military Counseling Statements and Saving Face

Military Counseling Statements and Saving Face

Having been in the Military for 35 years I cannot retire without an in depth review of Counseling Statements. Developmental Counseling Statements as the Army calls them are mishandled most of the time by officers who lack simple communication skills. And yes I am a Field Grade Officer.

Let me give you some first hand experience with Counseling Statements giving actual examples, I will then tell you the right way to handle them.

1. As a MAJ I was given one counseling statement six months after the fact. I was working with a CPT in an office at 7th Army in Heidelberg. This CPT did not report to me. I was not his rater and he reported to another MAJ. He had surgery and was out for a few weeks. Then he had to have Physical Therapy a few times a week. Just about that time I got a new boss who was a LTC. Well six months later he gave me a counseling statement because he felt that I was not in control of this CPT at that time. I explained to the LTC that this CPT did not report to me and that his rater had specifically told me he did not report to me. No Matter - the statement was written and this LTC was not about to pull it as he had to save face. But in fact - it made him look bad.

A better COA would be to bring me in and ask me the situation. Then bring in his rater and discuss it. Gather all of the data and he may find that a counseling statement is not warranted. But once it is written its all over. That officer is going to have to save face regardless if he is wrong or not. Its all about Communication. If you can't get down in the weeds and ask a few simple questions then you are not a good leader.

2. Next Example. I was still a MAJ but just started working for an AF LtCol. I took the Army APFT and passed it but then got a counseling statement because he felt I could do more reps than I did. I explained to him the way the Army works. I exceeded the standard on the test and it could not even be noted in my OER. No Matter - this LtCol has to save face so he will put it in his file.

3. Same Air Force LtCol - We went on a ruck march and he asked that each squad provide AAR comments for the event. When we got back I got the input from my squad. He stated in a counseling statement that he had asked someone and they told him I did not ask for the input. I told him to ask the PLT Sgt and he would verify. No Matter - this Lt Col is not going to pull it or risk not saving face.

Comments:
Reading from above you can tell that these officers are not going to put any time into finding the facts before they start writing. And once they start writing they will not confess that they are wrong and trash the report. There is no developmental input to the receiver.

Here is my guidance for these counseling statements. I believe and practice on the spot corrections. If you have an issue then take that person outside and tell them how you feel or what you suspect. Give them the opportunity to respond before you write anything. If there is more than one person then talk to all of them. Once you have all of the facts get back to the person you feel did wrong and tell them what you found. At that time you should tell them that you will write up a counseling statement. Give that soldier the benefit of the doubt and if it is a minor issue let it lie with an ass chewing. If that soldier realizes he did wrong then consider that as well.

Your mission at that time is to acquire corrective action and if a few words will give you that then consider that COA. But of course - sometimes the infraction will warrent a counseling form.

BLUF: Don't write the form until you have done your homework otherwise it will reflect on you.

PS: Let me have your comments at mwg0735@yahoo.com or post them here..