Can I order a Soldier to sign a DA 4856 counseling statement? | AskTOP.net – Leader Development for Army Professionals

Can I order a Soldier to sign a DA 4856 counseling statement?

Can I order a Soldier to sign a counseling statement?

Army Counseling Software - Include over 250 Army Counseling Examples

I would not recommend ordering a Soldier to sign a counseling statement. Soldiers have the opportunity to agree or disagree with the counseling on the form. If they chose not to sign the counseling statement you cannot force them to sign. You could have someone witness the Soldier refusing to sign and have the witness write a brief statement in the session closing block and initial it along with time and date.  The problem is then solved in a professional manner with no need to get aggravated. You may also be interested in the following post: What regs states I cannot order a Soldier to sign a counseling statement?

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Mark is a Retired Command Sergeant Major with 26 years of military leadership experience. He held 3 military occupational specialties (Field Artillery, Nuclear Weapons Tech, and Ammunition Ordnance). Mark is one of the leading military authors in the fields of leadership, counseling, and training.

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Army Counseling Software - Include over 250 Army Counseling Examples

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  • SGT NICK

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    I blame senior leadership and failure of units having Sergeants Time Training/NCOPD for this question being brought up time and again. This is how it is sup­pose to work when a SM refuses to sign. The super­vi­sor needs to have two wit­nesses sign and write in the Leader Responsibilities sec­tion “SM refuses to sign the coun­sel­ing and is aware of the Plan of Action/Corrective Training”. Give the sol­dier a copy and if they refuse to do the cor­rec­tive train­ing any­way then write the rec­om­mend UCMJ one. The wit­nesses need to be senior NCO’s or the Platoon Leader just in case they have to write sworn state­ments later. The 1GT needs to give the SM a final warning about not singing the counseling as well, so when the UCMJ goes up you will a lot of support.

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