Productive counseling takes both hard data point/metrics and personal guided questions. We are all used to using prescribed formats but these should be used as starting points not as a check list.
Does your Marine know what standards they need to meet as an individual both within their MOS and at their rank? Do they know what steps to take to reach their short and long term goals?
Do they know what different career paths the Marine Corps can offer? Active reserve? I&I duty stations? MSG? CWO route? Officer route? Skillbridge?
Do they know what courses they can take paid for by the Marine Corps that can later help them find better paying jobs on the civilian side?
Marines will notice quickly if you aren’t invested in their formation. Your limited interest in them will limit their potential within the unit. In order to form a solid team you need to understand how to best leverage each one of them.
The Marine Corps offers plenty of sources available online to help you understand how to improve your leadership:
https://www.usmcu.edu/mld-leadership-tools/
https://www.usmcu.edu/Academic-Programs/Lejeune-Leadership-Institute/Marine-Leader-Development/
Lastly, make sure to build counseling time in your weekly/monthly TEEP. If you don’t make it a priority you will lose sight of your Marines. A simple problem you could have helped them with at the beginning might turn into a real issue further down the line. Don’t let your Marines fail due to your lack of support.
Expeditionary Leader 
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