I received 2 counseling statements for the color of my nail polish- What can my they really do to me?

Short Answer

Alot and if you have a poor attitude and tone about the issue…It might become incredibly painful to include loss of pay and rank.

Discussion

You may not see this as a serious issue but the fact that you received 2 counselings for one standard says you need might need to check yourself.  This is not personal and your leader is not acting upon personal preference or feeling.  They are upholding a punitive standard of AR 670-1.

A counseling statement is not required to recommend a Soldier for an Article 15 or a requirement for  Corrective Training.  The counseling statement is a good way to document the actions and recommendations of the leader as well as provide a plan of action for the Soldier to improve. It also provides the Soldier the ability to document their side of the issue in the session closing block of the counseling statement.

Getting two counseling statements for the same issue is not a positive event.  In your case Nail Polish  standards are covered under AR 670-1. The offense is punishable under the proceedings of Article 15 and other aspects of the UCMJ.

The leader gave you a warning when they counseled you to ensure you understood the  standard and  more than likely directed corrective action.  Receiving a 2nd counseling statement for the same offense would be considered disobeying an order, failure to follow order or regulation, etc.  The leader can simply recommend an Article 15 or have you conduct corrective training.

AR 670-1 para 3–2c. Fingernail Standards and Grooming Policies

Note: This paragraph is punitive with regard to Soldiers. Violation by Soldiers may result in adverse administrative action and/or charges under the provisions of the UCMJ.

c. Fingernails. All personnel will keep fingernails clean and neatly trimmed.  Females will trim nails shorter if the commander determines that the longer length detracts from a professional appearance, presents a safety concern, or interferes with the performance of duties. Females may only wear clear polish when in uniform or while in civilian clothes on duty. Females may wear clear acrylic nails, provided they have a natural appearance and conform to Army standards.

Items to Consider

Recommend Commander Revoke Your Privilege to Wear Nail Polish: Almost everything you do can be related to a privilege.  In this case the Leader could recommend to the commander that your ability to wear nail polish be removed until you have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the standard.

Since you have already received 2 counseling statements you might find the following post of interest:

Related Post

How Can I Convince my Chain of Command to Drop an Article 15?

The best policy when you are counseled is to understand the infraction and take corrective action to ensure it does not happen again.  Your leaders usually have your best interest in mind and are attempting to correct the issue at the lowest possible level.