COUNSELING AND REHABILITATION
a. General. Counseling is a Commander’s function (AR 600-20, 2-3) and is one
of the principal tools of leadership. Commanders and supervisors are responsible for
counseling subordinates on a continuing basis concerning performance requirements,
conduct, efficiency, military bearing, and promotion potential. Counseling and
rehabilitation are mandatory before certain adverse actions can be taken.
Commanders must consult the appropriate regulations to be certain of the extent of the
requirement to counsel and/or rehabilitate. The following paragraphs discuss some of the
more common situations. If the regulations are not followed, administrative actions
may be overturned if challenged.
b. Drug and Alcohol Counseling. If a Soldier identifies himself or herself as an
alcohol or drug abuser, the unit commander will use resources within the unit to assist the
Soldier and guide him/her to appropriate civilian or military rehabilitative programs. The
military now has in place a drug rehabilitation program that applies to reserve components
on a no cost to the government basis. Refer to AR 600-85. All personnel involved in the
identification process must be aware of the confidentiality and limited prosecution use
policies concerning drug and alcohol abuse cases. A commander who suspects that
alcohol or drug abuse is a factor in unsatisfactory performance of a Soldier will refer the
Soldier for medical evaluation and, if appropriate, initiate separation procedures under AR
635-200, Chapter 9 (enlisted personnel) and AR 600-8-24, para 4-2 (officers).
c. Bar to Reenlistment Counseling. A Soldier who is often late to formations,
AWOL, loses equipment, has substandard hygiene or appearance, cannot follow orders,
cannot adapt to military life, or causes trouble in the civilian community may be barred
from reenlistment. Refer to Chapter 1, Section VII, AR 140-111. It is essential that the
Soldier is counseled on each occurrence and that all instances are made a matter of
official record when acts are committed.
d. Counseling Before Separation. Separation of an enlisted Soldier for
unsatisfactory performance or misconduct requires counseling and rehabilitation efforts.
(1) Each counseling session must be in writing.
(2) Counseling must include the reason for counseling, the fact that
continued behavior may result in discharge, and the type of discharge that may be
given should separation eventually result.
e. Rehabilitation Before Separation. After counseling and other lesser forms of
rehabilitation have been tried (e.g. corrective training), one of the following measures
should be taken prior to separation:
(1) enlisted Soldiers will be reassigned at least once if within commuting
distance, with a minimum of two months duty in each unit; or
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APPENDIX D
