Results for counseling

Counseling for adverse actions and the record it creates

Adverse counseling is the foundation under a flag, a bar, or a separation. Written carelessly it collapses under review; written properly it protects the Soldier and the command equally.

Counseling, coaching, and mentoring

Three different developmental methods that get used as synonyms and should not be. Only one of them is directed by the chain of command, and only one of them is voluntary on both sides.

Developmental counseling: three types, four stages

ATP 6-22.1 defines event, performance, and professional growth counseling, and a four-stage process that runs from identifying the need through follow-up.

Flagging, enrollment, and what happens after an ABCP failure

What enrollment actually costs a Soldier, what counts as satisfactory progress, and where the separation line is.

The NCO evaluation system and the rating chain

AR 623-3 governs the evaluation reporting system. The DA 2166-9 series carries the NCOER, the support form drives the counseling behind it, and the rating chain fixes who is accountable for the assessment.

The officer evaluation report

The DA 67-10 series covers officers and warrant officers by grade plate, with a support form that requires face-to-face counseling between the rater and the rated officer.

Writing a DA 4856 that survives scrutiny

The counseling form is only as strong as the facts in it. A useful DA 4856 states what happened, cites the standard, and sets a plan of action a third party could measure.