Posted on Apr 9, 2017
How do you maintain unit morale and fight complacency during a deployment?
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My military science instructor asked me to give a presentation on this topic based on whatever information I could solicit from experienced individuals. Community: How have you maintained morale during a deployment? What have you heard that others have done? What initiatives have you seen commanders push? Is there a causal relationship between morale and complacency or are the two unrelated?
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 14
Currently deployed with the grossest of missions, fob security. My guys have trained hard, and heard lots of stories how the war used to be. So this mission set isn't exactly what they had in mind. The best way to fight complacency is to keep the guys busy, train, do pt, anything that they can learn, have fun, and not sit in their rooms. Whatever you do, make it worth their time so they dont feel time has been wasted. We hold competitions of various sorts with different perks of winning. Winnings could include time off, making a senior leader pull your shift, trips to the few places we can go off our fob. This also helps keep up morale.
I believe there is a connection between morale and complacency, but it is not definitive. Complacency is generally caused by boredom and doing a job so long corners start to get cut. Nobody has to enjoy their job, they just have to do it. While the higher the morale, the more motivation and job satisfaction you have, it is not required to accomplish the mission. People not doing their job, or doing it poorly seem to fall into two catagories. Either they don't know, which is a leadership failure, or they don't care. If they don't care because of their morale, and you have fostered a good command climate, then there are other ways to motivate them to care, ie. UCMJ.
Our biggest problem is our junior NCOs. While they may have excelled in training, some have decided they don't care. This attitude must be smashed immediately before it affects the junior enlisted. We are just over 90 days into a 270 day deployment and 2 of the 3 Article 15s done were for NCOs.
I believe there is a connection between morale and complacency, but it is not definitive. Complacency is generally caused by boredom and doing a job so long corners start to get cut. Nobody has to enjoy their job, they just have to do it. While the higher the morale, the more motivation and job satisfaction you have, it is not required to accomplish the mission. People not doing their job, or doing it poorly seem to fall into two catagories. Either they don't know, which is a leadership failure, or they don't care. If they don't care because of their morale, and you have fostered a good command climate, then there are other ways to motivate them to care, ie. UCMJ.
Our biggest problem is our junior NCOs. While they may have excelled in training, some have decided they don't care. This attitude must be smashed immediately before it affects the junior enlisted. We are just over 90 days into a 270 day deployment and 2 of the 3 Article 15s done were for NCOs.
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2LT (Join to see)
Thanks for the response, SFC. It seems like low morale can't be used to explain all issues a unit can have on a deployment. Have you ever encountered problem individuals that wouldn't be helped no matter what you tried?
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MSG (Join to see)
Not on deployment, most guys enjoy deployment because it's an easier life than at home station. I've had a few that never really got with the program, I chaptered them out for not meeting standards. I've had a few guys that didn't want to play ball, till they got hit with some UCMJ. I talk with them and tell them there are 2 ways to accept the punishment. First, they can continue to put them blame on someone else and be bitter about it, which gets them nowhere but chaptered. Or they can accept their responsibility, learn from their mistakes and we can all move on. I'm at about 60% success with that talk. The stat seems low, but ultimately it's up to them. If they don't want to be helped cut sling load and spend more time on people that want it.
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2LT (Join to see) A periodic break or stand down. When I was in Vietnam, I was on one operation that lasted 34 days and another that lasted 44 days. After both, we went to China Beach, Danang for a 48 hour in country R&R. We went to a compound on the beach where we turned our weapons in and were issued new jungle utilities. We had hot dogs, hamburgers, all the beer and sodas you wanted and no responsibilities. They played a movie at night on a plywood screen. When you were in the bush, you wanted to be back at the combat base, and when you were at the combat base, you wanted to be back in the bush. Staying busy and having a change of pace helps.
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2LT (Join to see)
I appreciate you taking the time to reply, sir! You give some good insight about how things were in past operating environments. Have you ever had the chance to talk with the younger crowd about how length of operations and R&R have changed over time?
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Sgt (Join to see)
2LT (Join to see) - When I talk to any veterans or active duty, it is about where they were stationed and their MOS.
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2LT (Join to see):
I was never deployed into combat; however, German terrorists were bombing American bases- during the time I was stationed in Germany- during the Cold War. (1975-1977)
I was a Squad Leader; and I maintained morale during deployment: by respecting, honoring and loving my Squad members- prayerfully, more than myself.
Morale supersedes complacency, in my opinion, Cadet Sergeant; and morale contraindicates-in my opinion-complacency.
May God eternally bless you and yours; on this beautiful Sunday morning- Cadet Sergeant Riford.
Most Sincerely, Margaret C Higgins US Army (Ret)
I was never deployed into combat; however, German terrorists were bombing American bases- during the time I was stationed in Germany- during the Cold War. (1975-1977)
I was a Squad Leader; and I maintained morale during deployment: by respecting, honoring and loving my Squad members- prayerfully, more than myself.
Morale supersedes complacency, in my opinion, Cadet Sergeant; and morale contraindicates-in my opinion-complacency.
May God eternally bless you and yours; on this beautiful Sunday morning- Cadet Sergeant Riford.
Most Sincerely, Margaret C Higgins US Army (Ret)
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2LT (Join to see)
Thank you for your response, ma'am! I agree with the paramount importance of fostering a unit environment that encourages unconditional positive regard. It seems like you're saying that maintaining high morale will by itself go a long way in fighting complacency. Do I have you right there?
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SPC Margaret Higgins
2LT (Join to see):
You have got me right; Cadet Sergeant James Riford!
Have a STELLAR rest of your Sunday!
-Best Regards, Margaret
You have got me right; Cadet Sergeant James Riford!
Have a STELLAR rest of your Sunday!
-Best Regards, Margaret
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