HUNTER ARMY AIRFIELD, Ga. - The Soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade took part in legal training in an effort to inform Soldiers about the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the proper way to fill out a DA 4856 counseling form at the brigade's classroom July 25.
According to 1st Sgt. Siamrath Kumnog, first sergeant, HHC 3rd CAB, the training was designed for everyone from junior Soldiers to noncommissioned officers and officers to better understand Soldiers' rights and help them to more effectively counsel their personnel.
"I see a lot of leaders in the formations that don't know the UCMJ process, and the counseling process and the rights that Soldiers are afforded," said Kumnog. "A lot of NCOs counsel Soldiers but they don't have the experience or background to know how to counsel Soldiers properly, so that's why we had this class."
Kumnog, a native of Charleston, South Carolina, enlisted the knowledge and experience of a subject matter expert to teach the class. Staff Sgt. Marc Robertson, a Beaufort, South Carolina native, is the senior paralegal NCO, 3rd CAB.
"I think a proper understanding of the UCMJ is a requirement for all leaders and counseling as well," said Robertson. "If you have no idea of what you're talking about, you can't counsel someone who is having issues. UCMJ is a leader's tool and leaders need to know what it is and how to use it."
Robertson has been doing paralegal work for 10 years, and said that he sees a lot of fundamentally flawed counseling statements. Not being detailed enough about the event is a common problem he sees. This becomes a problem when it is time for UCMJ action against a Soldier.
"It's a very important subject that all Soldiers need to be aware of," said Robertson. "A Soldier's actions do carry consequences."
One junior enlisted Soldier who enjoyed the class was Spc. April Lewis, an intelligence analyst, HHC, 3rd CAB.
"I thought it was a good class," said Lewis, who hails from Baltimore. "It informed me about what I can or cannot do if I disagree with something that is in a counseling statement and how to correct it if necessary."
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