TASK: Counseling Military Personnel

CONDITIONS: Given FM 22-101

STANDARDS: IAW FM 22-101

COUNSELING:

A process involving a helping relationship directed toward improvement or change in behavior.

3 PHASE PROCESS:

Self-exploration

Self-understanding

Action

IT IS MANDATORY:

Leaders will regularly counsel their soldiers.

Leaders who neglect to counsel their subordinates are negilgent in the performance of their duties.

LEADERS SKILLS:

*KNOW YOURSELF/SEEK TO IMPROVE

*BE TECH/TACT PROFICIENT

*TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACTIONS

*MAKE SOUND/TIMELY DECISIONS

*SET EXAMPLE

*KNOW SOLDIERS/CARE FOR THEM

*KEEP SOLDIERS INFORMED

LEADERS SKILLS CONTD:

*DEVELOP RESPONSIBILITY OTHERS.

*ENSURE TASK IS UNDERSTOOD, SUPERVISED, AND DONE.

*TRAIN SOLDIERS AS A TEAM.

*EMPLOY UNIT IAW ITS CAPABILITIES.

HOW IS COUNSELING VALUABLE TO A LEADER?

*CLEAR UP MISUNDERSTANDINGS.

*SAVES TIME, TEACHES PROBLEM-SOLVING.

*IMPROVES MOTIVATION.

*DEVELOPS TEAMWORK.

*GET TO KNOW SUBORDINATES.

*RETAIN GOOD SOLDIERS.

LEADERS EFFORTS TO DEVELOP SOLDIERS SHOULD ACCOMPLISH 4 OBJECTIVES:

* Cause soldier to recognize strengths and weaknesses.

* Have soldier determine course of action.

* Cause soldier to take appropriate action.

* Have soldier assume responsibility for his/her decisions and actions.

SOURCES OF POWER:

The ability to have positive control over the actions of others.

* LEGITIMATE

* REWARD

* COERCIVE

* REFERENT

* EXPERT

APPROACHES TO COUNSELING:

* DIRECTIVE

* NONDIRECTIVE

* COMBINED

BASIC SKILLS:

* Listening and Watching

* Responding

* Guiding

DEVELOPED BY STUDYING HUMAN BEHAVIOR, KNOWING PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT SOLDIERS, AND BECOMING GOOD AT DEALING WITH SOLDIERS.

5 TYPES OF COUNSELING:

* Reception and Integration

* Performance

* Personal

* Discipline

* Professional Growth and Guidance

THE COUNSELING PROCESS:

* PREPARE FOR COUNSELING

Notify the soldier

Schedule best time

Choose a suitable place

Decide the right atmosphere

Plan the discussion

COUNSELING PROCESS (Contd)

* CONDUCT A COUNSELING SESSION

Opening the session

Discussion

Closing the session

* FOLLOW UP ON COUNSELING

Follow-up measures

Written records

REACTIONS AND PITFALLS:

* SOLDIER REACTIONS

Nervousness Loss of temper

Cooperation Desire to Quit

Rational Disagreement

Too Easy Agreement

Determination to argue

Attempts to shift blame

COUNSELING PITFALLS:

* Personal Bias * Reluctance to counsel

* Rash Judgements

* Stereotyping

* Loss of emotional control

* Inflexible methods

* Amateur character analysis

* Improper follow-up

METHODS FOR TRAINING:

* ROLE MODELING

* FEEDBACK

* ROLE PLAYING

TASK: Counseling Military Personnel

CONDITIONS: Given FM 22-101

STANDARDS: IAW FM 22-101