Sample APFT Failure Counseling

You have a Soldier who just failed the APFT. As a leader, you have a couple of housekeeping issues to tend to, not the least of which is an event-oriented counseling for a for record APFT failure. We are going to walk through an example APFT failure counseling (DA Form 4856). It is extremely important to ensure that your Soldier is given an APFT failure counseling and that it includes the parts in our example APFT failure counseling on the DA Form 4856.

First, let us begin with the administrative data and the background information:

As you can see in our APFT failure counseling, we have filled in the administrative data IAW our unit SOP. Next, we have included relevant bullet points in the background information. At a minimum, the Soldier’s APFT test date, administer, and APFT score should be included. If it is a second APFT failure, the first APFT test date should be included as well.

Next, we need to fill in part three of our example APFT failure counseling.

At a minimum the above language needs to be used. It is extremely important to inform the Soldier that a second APFT failure requires the initiation of separation from the Army. In addition, they should also be counseled on their failure to meet the standard, failure to meet any additional unit standards, notification that a flag will be initiated against them, and that they will be retested no later than 90 days. Always include the magic bullet in your counselings!

Lastly, the plan of action and leader’s responsibilities must be filled out in our sample APFT failure counseling.

At a minimum the plan of action should include the proposed retest date, the NLT (no later than) retest date, and a plan to improve the Soldier’s APFT score (your unit probably has an SOP for this that can be substituted for the last bullet). The leader’s responsibility is always to ensure the subordinate is following the plan of action, including ensuring that time and equipment are provided for the Soldier to do so.

This concludes our sample APFT failure counseling. It is important to understand the counseling requirements for leaders who have Soldiers who are APFT failures. Below is the data from inside the sample counseling that can be copy and pasted:

Event-Oriented Counseling regarding PV2 Snuffy’s APFT failure on 20 JULY 17.

o PV2 Snuffy performed a for record APFT, administered by Charlie Company on 20 JULY 17.

o PV2 Snuffy scored: PU ___/____, SU ___/____, 2MR ________/______ for a total score of _________.

PV2 Snuffy, on 20 JULY 17, you were administered an APFT by Charlie Company. Your failure to accomplish the Army standard in the pushup event is not acceptable. If you fail two APFTs in a row, separation is required to be initiated IAW AR 635-200. In order to prevent separation, you must pass the APFT IAW the Army standard of 60 points in each event. In addition, the Battalion standard for Soldiers is a 260 overall, which you also failed to meet.

A flag will be initiated IAW AR 600-8-2 for the failure of an APFT.

IAW AR 350-1 Para g-9.m(6), you will be retested no later than 90 days. Your retest will be scheduled when both you and the Commander are in agreeance that you are ready to take and pass the APFT.

I am counseling you for the conduct noted above. If this conduct continues UCMJ action or adverse administrative action such as a General Officer Memorandum of Reprimand (GOMOR), Bar to Reenlistment, Article 15 or other action may be taken to include action to separate you from the Army. You are advised that separation action may be initiated under the provision of Army Regulation 635-200 if this behavior/conduct continues. If you are involuntarily separated, you could receive an Honorable Discharge, a General (Under Honorable Conditions) Discharge, or Under Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge. An Honorable Discharge is a separation with honor based on the quality of service, which meets the standards of acceptable conduct and performance of duty. A General Discharge is a separation under honorable conditions, based on a military record being satisfactory but not sufficiently meritorious to warrant an Honorable Discharge. A discharge Under Other Than Honorable Conditions is based upon a pattern of behavior of one or more acts or omissions that constitutes a significant departure from the conduct expected of a soldier. If you receive an Honorable Discharge, you will be qualified for most benefits resulting from military service. If you receive a General Discharge, you will be disqualified from service for some period of time and you will be ineligible for some military and VA administered benefits, including the Montgomery GI Bill. If you receive a discharge Under Other Than Honorable Conditions, you will be ineligible for further service and for most benefits, including payments of accrued leave, transitional benefits, the Montgomery GI Bill, and possibly transportation of dependents and household goods to home. You may also face difficulty in obtaining civilian employment as employers have a low regard for General and Under Other Than Honorable conditions discharges. Although there are agencies to which you may apply to have your characterization of service changed, it is unlikely that such application will be successful.

Your APFT retest will be scheduled on _______________. SM Initials ______. .

Your APFT retest will be NLT 20 OCT 17.

You will conduct remedial PRT once per day with your TL, SL, or through another leadership approved plan.