Very direct question for soldiers and leaders. What's morale looking like in your ranks? How can you personally improve it?

In the beginning was the plan.
And then came the assumptions.
And the assumptions were without form.
And the plan was without substance.
And darkness was upon the face of the Enlisted Soldiers.

And they spoke among themselves saying,
"It is a crock of $#!T and it stinketh."
And the Enlisted Soldiers went unto their NCOs and said,
"It is a pale of dung and none may abide the odor thereof."

And the NCOs went unto their Sr. NCOs and said,
"It is a container of excrement and it is very strong, such that none may abide by it."

And the Sr. NCOs went unto their Company Grade Officers, saying,
"It is a vessel of fertilizer, and none may abide its strength."

And the Company Grade Officers spoke among themselves, saying to one another,
"It contains that which aids plant growth and it is very strong."

And the Company Grade Officers went unto their Field Grade Officers, saying unto them,
"It promotes growth and is very powerful."

And the Field Grade Officers went unto the Colonel, saying unto him,
"The new plan will promote the growth and vigor of the unit, with powerful effects."
And the Colonel looked upon the plan and saw that it was good.
And the plan became policy.

This is how $#!T happens.

It waxes and wanes at my unit.

We smashed our mission over our 3 week Army Reserve Annual Training, which is great, and made us look like rock stars; as a unit, our PT scores are getting better; we're soon to retire our tired, old M16s in favor of brand new M4s (we recently traded in old SAWs and 240Bs, which is sweet), and by-and-large soldiers give high marks to our company's command team-Higher, eh...no so much, but they generally leave us alone. But while we take pride in our accomplishments, and all that is going right, I think we are in a period of transition and I sense a more gradual, if slight, decrease in morale.

We will be on the receiving end of 25 brand new soldiers in the next couple months; and I do mean BRAND NEW, not experienced soldiers transitioning from AD, Guard or another Reserve unit, and obviously no NCOs, which we are in need of. And with regard to needed NCOs, many of our lower enlisted are not ready, not able or simply do not want to become NCOs. We have had several long-term soldiers, including AGRs, leave for newer pastures, and many SMs are within a year of getting out--myself included--and several others who aren't soon to leave, wish they were.

Perhaps it's the nature of the part time Army. So many demands on the time and temperament of the drilling soldier, that others--particularly those on Active Duty--may not understand. I didn't until I left Active for the Reserves.


So how does one improve that? I don't know. I'm all ears though.

My motivation may lag on the Friday night before drill, but overall I am still glad to be a part of this special existence. I don't (generally) treat my job as a chore; I do my own PT; and while no one will EVER mistake me for Mr.-Audie-Murphy-All-Army-Knowledge-Knower-Super-Hooah-Sergeant-Soldier, I enjoy what I am and what I can give when it is time to Be Know & Do.

The point is, when you are a civilian 94% of the month, and are not among your fellow soldiers all the time, motivation is harder to impart to others two days a month. Especially under those conditions, maintaining morale is personal I think. I can work on my motivation, but outside of supporting those under me and around me, I don't know what can realistically be done to improve overall motivation.

In my current unit the morale is low due to ZERO funding of attending NCOES. Careers of a lot of very good NCO's is at a halt. It has caused an exodus to begin. Good NCO's/drill sergeants are heading back to line units with only 1 year under the hat. It's a shame.