Marine Corps Counseling

As Marines we have many traditions that we continue to pass on through the ranks. They define who we are as an organization and they set us apart from the other branches. One of the biggest traditions we have trouble continuing is formally counseling our Marines’ on the negative or positive things that they do even though there is a Marine Corps Order (MCO) that tells us how and when to conduct counseling’s. I feel that this is one of the traditions that should be practiced more within my unit. To promote continuous counseling of Marines I would hold professional military education (PME) classes, ensure that all counseling’s are being conducted with the guidance of MCO 1610.12, and to hold practical application events with the Marines in my
(United States) From then forward we have been required to counsel our Marines. (United States) Counseling is important to the individual Marine for many reasons. One reason is to let them know what is expected from them as a Marine of the unit. Another reason is to give that Marine an outside look on things they are good at or need improvement on. The biggest thing that most leaders focus on are the negative/corrective counseling’s that are made to inform a Marine on a negative action that they have been in violation of. These counseling’s can come into play in many areas, but the unit I am with is not currently conducting counseling properly and by direction of MCO 1610.12. With that said, it is my duty to uphold the traditions of the Marine
This would be conducted by setting up a calendar day, with the OIC or CO, for monthly counseling’s to be conducted on Marines within the work section. Per the USMC User’s Guide to Counseling, “counseling’s for Lance Corporals and below will occur once every 30 days”. It also States that “counseling for corporals through colonels will begin with an initial counseling session approximately 30 days after the start of the senior/junior relationship. A follow-on session will occur approximately 90 days after the initial counseling session, and subsequent sessions will occur”. Given these guidelines we are to follow it will help establish a healthy relationship between the junior and senior. Some areas to improve the counseling process in the unit would be to hold PME