Caring and empathic Army leaders should counsel all new team members when they join the organization. Reception and integration counseling serves two important purposes:
- It identifies and helps alleviate any problems or concerns that new members may have, including any issues resulting from the new duty assignment.
- It familiarizes new team members with the organizational standards and how they fit into the team.
- It clarifies roles and assignments and sends the message that the chain of command cares.
Reception and integration counseling should among others include the following discussion points:
- Chain of command familiarization.
- Organizational standards.
- Security and safety issues.
- Noncommissioned officer (NCO) support channel (who is in it and how it is used).
- On- and off-duty conduct.
- Personnel/personal affairs/initial and special clothing issue.
- Organizational history, structure, and mission.
- Soldier programs within the organization, such as Soldier of the Month/Quarter/Year, and educational and training opportunities.
- Off limits and danger areas.
- Functions and locations of support activities.
- On- and off-post recreational, educational, cultural, and historical opportunities.
- Foreign nation or host nation orientation.
- Other areas the individual should be aware of as determined by the leader.