Counseling
Setting Counseling Targets
A target carries an action verb, an object, and a standard. SMART tightens it further. Set 3 to 5 per session, tied to the six F's, owned by the Marine.
Leader Steps
- Define the action verb, object, and standard for each target
- Tag every target to one of the six F's
- Confirm the target is challenging but attainable
- Hold the count at 3 to 5
- Capture targets in the leader notebook
Anatomy of a Target
NAVMC 2795NAVMC 2795 paragraph 4002.1 sets the structure.NAVMC 2795 4002.1.f
- Action verb. Start, complete, pass, achieve, sustain.
- Object. The platoon's NCI rate, the 3-mile run time, the BAH submission.
- Standard. The measure of done.
Standards live in one of four dimensions.NAVMC 2795 4002.1.h
- Quantity. How much.
- Quality. How well.
- Timeliness. When or how long.
- Manner. In what way - safely, promptly, by the book.
Bad Target Versus Strong Target
Weak. "Work on improving the platoon's readiness."
Strong. "Achieve a 95 percent NCI completion rate by 31 December."
The strong target tells you exactly when the Marine has won.
SMART Tightens the Anatomy
The SMART acronym layers the target with five tests. The dedicated SMART goals leaf walks the framework with worked Marine examples per F. Use SMART as the second pass after the action verb, object, standard structure.
Six Rules for the Set
Per NAVMC 2795NAVMC 2795 paragraph 4002.1.i.NAVMC 2795 4002.1.i
- Challenging but attainable. The Marine stretches without breaking.
- The Marine has the authority and resources to deliver.
- Tied to the unit's mission and the Marine's primary duties.
- Limited in number. Three to five per session.
- The Marine helps build the target. Ownership matters.
- Targets adjust when circumstances change outside the Marine's control.
Tag Every Target to an F
A target with no F lives in a void. A target tagged to an F lives in the framework.
| Target | F |
|---|---|
| Pass the next PFT at 285 or higher | Fitness |
| Complete MCI 0102 by 30 September | Fighter |
| Submit NAVMC 10922NAVMC 10922 within 10 working days of every life event | Family |
| Set TSP allotment to 10 percent of base pay by 1 July | Finances |
| Complete Sgt's Course distance learning by EAS minus 18 months | Future |
| Lead the next quarterly heritage brief | Fidelity |
Common Target-Setting Mistakes
- Twelve targets in one session. Cut to five.
- Vague verbs like work on, look at, get better. Rewrite with concrete verbs.
- No standard. Add a number, a date, or an observable outcome.
- Targets you have no way to verify. With no evidence the target is met, you have no target.
Same topic, other roles
References