Can a Soldier be counseled twice for FCP, one from the team leader and seven months later by the PSG?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 20:38:13 -0400

The Soldier was counseled 7 months ago on FCP by her team leader, was given 60 days to complete. The Soldier completed the FCP in that time period. Was told by her 1SG he would go over the FCP with her. That never happened, 7 months later they were supposed to go to the field she activated her FCP she then ended Up tearing her groin which prevented her from going to the field. now she is being counseled again by her PSG for FCP again. What advice should be given on this? What is supposed to happen? Can she be counseled twice for negligence on her Leaderships part?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2022 9:30 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 21:30:32 -0400

Counseling is merely a conversation about a topic. What I am wanting to know is why she is being counselled. What is the purpose of the counselling by the PSG this time around?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 30 at 2022 2:00 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 02:00:56 -0400

You can be counseled a lot for seemingly any reason relevant or moronic.

Great thing about counselings is you don't have to agree with them and can respond to them. Crazy concept but I've found a lot of NCO's to be under the impression that a Soldier must agree for some reason. It's effectively just a record of discussion, so the Soldier should highlight any leadership failures or miscommunications regarding the counseling. Good leaders address issues made, bad leaders brains fume at the disagreement. I've seen plenty of both, especially the latter as they get sent to my office after an NJP recommendation is forwarded.

Though I'm also surprised how many 1SG's and CO's don't bother reading the supporting documentation before it gets sent up beyond the rec just on the SL's or PSG's word. I mean I get it, trust your staff but maybe do a little verifying too.

I'm also surprised at how often Part IV of the 4856 is ignored or not followed up on. The assessment of a counseling is important, yet woefully forgotten by many.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 30 at 2022 7:57 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 07:57:03 -0400

Weeeeelllllll ...

By the reg, FCP counseling comes from the Commander. Soooooooooo......

Yeah, there's that.

But yes. Anyone in the Soldier's chain can counsel them about anything they want to. Even if someone else has already counseled them about it. Those counselings can't "stack" for things like pattern of misconduct (5 counseling statements about one incident is totally different than 5 counselings about 5 incidents). But sure, they can counsel.

Response by SFC Kelly Fuerhoff made Mar 30 at 2022 12:39 PM

SFC Kelly Fuerhoff — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 12:39:12 -0400

Did the commander formally counsel the SM? Because that's the counseling that matters. That's what's in regulation that the commander is supposed to counsel the soldier and then the soldier has 30 days to provide documentation.

The PSG can do a counseling but the one that matters is the commander so if the commander hasn't done a formal counseling and reviewed it, that's the commander who is at fault. Not the soldier.

Team leaders and PSGs are not the ones who authorize the FCP. The commander does.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 30 at 2022 7:02 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 19:02:06 -0400

You can be counseled every twenty minutes if your leadership thinks it necessary. The Army has annotated the MINIMUM counseling required in a given period. There are no maximums.