Quality force management: essential to flawless operations Published Oct. 21, 2008 By Capt. Christopher Baker 21st Space Wing Legal Office PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Counselings, admonitions, and reprimands are quality force management tools available to supervisors, superiors and commanders to improve, correct, and instruct those who depart from standards of performance, conduct, bearing, and integrity and whose actions degrade the individual and unit's mission. These tools are corrective in nature, not punitive. When properly used, they help maintain established Air Force standards and enhance mission accomplishment. The following are a few considerations to be made when choosing to use quality force management tools: - There are many factors to consider when determining what action is appropriate in response to a member's departure from standards. - Air Force Instruction 36-2907, Unfavorable Information File (UIF) Program, contains guidance on administrative counselings, admonitions and reprimands. The counseling is the lowest level of administrative action. An admonition is more severe than a counseling. A reprimand is more severe than both and carries a stronger degree of official censure. - The decision to issue a counseling, admonition, or reprimand should be based primarily on two factors -- First is the nature of the incident. These actions may be administered for any departure from Air Force standards. Unlike nonjudicial punishment under Article 15, they are not limited to offenses punishable by the UCMJ. -- Second is the pervious disciplinary record of the member. They should be used as a graduated pattern of discipline in response to repeated departures from standards. - While the nature of the incident and the member's record are normally the key factors in deciding what actions to take, sometimes other considerations come into play. -- If a member is arrested downtown and convicted in a civilian court, the member will not normally be punished through Article 15 or a court-martial -- If the commander feels that the member should not be in the Air Force, he or she could also initiate an administrative discharge (Editor's Note: This article is one of several highlighting the Air Force Space Command Year of Leadership and its focus on discipline)