Objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program - The Counseling Process Memorization Guide

Today we are going to be memorizing the objectives of the army substance abuse program.

There are 4 objectives of the ASAP, and they are

To increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, 

provide services to the civilian workforce,

 implement alcohol and other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, 

and restore to duty those substance-impaired Soldiers who have the potential for continued military service.

Objective 1. To increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness

This objective recognizes that substance abuse undermines both personal health and military effectiveness. ASAP helps Soldiers maintain physical, mental, and emotional fitness by deterring substance use and offering education, prevention, and treatment when needed. Readiness isn't just about having the right gear or training—it’s also about ensuring every Soldier is capable of performing their duties without the impairment or distraction caused by substance misuse. A unit is only as strong as its people, and even one Soldier abusing drugs or alcohol can compromise unit morale, safety, and combat effectiveness. By promoting substance-free lifestyles, ASAP directly supports the Army’s readiness goals.

Objective 2. To provide services to the civilian workforce

ASAP isn’t limited to Soldiers—it also supports Department of the Army civilian employees. Civilians play a critical role in sustaining Army operations, and substance abuse can impact their safety, performance, and well-being too. The program offers services like Employee Assistance Program (EAP) referrals, drug testing, and education to help civilians address personal issues before they become workplace problems. This inclusive approach ensures that the entire Army team—military and civilian alike—remains healthy, productive, and mission-focused.

Objective 3. To implement alcohol and other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies

This objective highlights the Army’s proactive stance on substance abuse. Rather than only reacting to incidents, ASAP collects and analyzes behavioral risk data to identify trends and units with high-risk profiles. Through tailored prevention efforts—such as unit briefings, targeted training, and tools like the Unit Risk Inventory—the Army can intervene early and reduce the likelihood of abuse. Prevention is not just a program; it’s a leadership responsibility at every level. Commanders are expected to foster a culture of accountability and healthy coping strategies, using ASAP resources to reinforce those standards.

Objective 4. To restore to duty those substance-impaired Soldiers who have the potential for continued military service

The Army recognizes that not every incident of substance abuse needs to end a career. When a Soldier shows potential for recovery and future service, ASAP works with behavioral health and command teams to provide appropriate treatment and counseling. The goal is rehabilitation and reintegration—not automatic punishment. This approach upholds Army values of loyalty and respect while also preserving valuable experience and talent. However, Soldiers must commit to the process; those who fail to participate in or respond to treatment may face administrative separation. Successful restoration protects the force and gives deserving Soldiers a second chance.

Now that we understand the 4 objectives, let’s memorize them.

The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are

To increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, 

provide services to the civilian workforce,

 implement alcohol and other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, 

and restore to duty those substance-impaired Soldiers who have the potential for continued military service.

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Welcome to the Board Questions podcast where you can study for
your promotion or Soldier of theMonth board while commuting,
playing video games, or during long days at the range.
Today we are going to be memorizing the objectives of the
Army Substance Abuse Program. There are 4 objectives of the
ASAP and they are to increase individual fitness and overall

(00:23):
unit readiness, provide servicesto the civilian workforce,
implement alcohol and other drugrisk reduction and prevention
strategies, and restore to duty those substance impaired
soldiers who have the potential for continued military service.
Objective one. To increase individual fitness

(00:44):
and overall unit readiness. This objective recognizes that
substance abuse undermines both personal health and military
effectiveness. ASAP helps Soldiers maintain
physical, mental, and emotional fitness by deterring substance
use and offering education, prevention, and treatment when
needed. Readiness isn't just about

(01:05):
having the right gear or training.
It's also about ensuring every Soldier is capable of performing
their duties without the impairment or distraction caused
by substance misuse. A unit is only as strong as its
people, and even 1 soldier abusing drugs or alcohol can
compromise unit morale, safety, and combat effectiveness by
promoting substance free lifestyles.

(01:27):
ASAP directly supports the Army's readiness goals.
Objective 2. To provide services to the
civilian workforce. ASAP isn't limited to soldiers.
It also supports Department of the Army civilian employees.
Civilians play a critical role in sustaining Army operations,

(01:48):
and substance abuse can impact their safety, performance and
well-being too. The program offers services like
Employee Assistance Program, EAPreferrals, drug testing, and
education to help civilians address personal issues before
they become workplace problems. This inclusive approach ensures
that the entire Army team, military and civilian alike,

(02:11):
remains healthy, productive, andmission focused.
Objective 3. To implement alcohol and other
drug risk reduction and prevention strategies.
This objective highlights the Army's proactive stance on
substance abuse. Rather than only reacting to
incidents, ASAP collects and analyzes behavioral risk data to

(02:34):
identify trends and units with high risk profiles.
Through tailored prevention efforts such as unit briefings,
targeted training, and tools like the Unit Risk Inventory,
the Army can intervene early andreduce the likelihood of abuse.
Prevention is not just a program, it's a leadership
responsibility at every level. Commanders are expected to

(02:55):
foster a culture of accountability and healthy
coping strategies, using ASAP resources to reinforce those
standards. Objective 4.
To restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who
have the potential for continuedmilitary service.
The Army recognizes that not every incident of substance

(03:15):
abuse needs to end a career. When a Soldier shows potential
for recovery and future service,ASAP works with behavioral
health and command teams to provide appropriate treatment
and counseling. The goal is rehabilitation and
reintegration, not automatic punishment.
This approach upholds Army values of loyalty and respect

(03:35):
while also preserving valuable experience and talent.
However, Soldiers must commit tothe process.
Those who fail to participate inor respond to treatment may face
administrative separation. Successful restoration protects
the force and gives deserving Soldiers a second chance.
Now that we understand the four objectives, let's memorize them.

(03:58):
The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the

(04:19):
potential for continued militaryservice.
The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and

(04:40):
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the
potential for continued militaryservice.
The objectives of the Army substance abuse program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and

(05:00):
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the
potential for continued militaryservice.
The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and

(05:25):
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the
potential for continued militaryservice.
The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and

(05:49):
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the
potential for continued militaryservice.
The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and

(06:13):
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the
potential for continued militaryservice.
The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and

(06:38):
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the
potential for continued militaryservice.
The objectives of the Army Substance Abuse Program are to
increase individual fitness and overall unit readiness, provide
services to the civilian workforce, implement alcohol and

(07:02):
other drug risk reduction and prevention strategies, and
restore to duty those substance impaired soldiers who have the
potential for continued militaryservice.
A little faster now. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian

(07:23):
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and

(07:46):
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance

(08:09):
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military

(08:32):
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army

(08:55):
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and

(09:18):
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian

(09:41):
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and

(10:05):
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. The objectives of the Army
Substance Abuse Program are to increase individual fitness and
overall unit readiness, provide services to the civilian
workforce, implement alcohol andother drug risk reduction and
prevention strategies, and restore to duty those substance

(10:28):
impaired soldiers who have the potential for continued military
service. That's it for today's episode.
Thanks for studying with the Board Questions podcast.