Posted on Jun 2, 2015
Why does Garrison life continue to interject itself into our deployments?
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I am currently on my 4th deployment and it seems that each time I am deployed more and more of garrison life follows. Things that would not be a good idea in areas where you have IDF (Indirect Fire) happening i.e. organized PRT runs, APFT, organization functions, etc. I don’t object to these things and I am sure risk mitigation is being done but it seems that now a days commands are more focused on all of these aspects of Garrison life rather than the mission at hand. If anyone knows why please inform me or if you are experiencing the same thing let me know.
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Deployment
Garrison
Deployment Garrison
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 8
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Because if standards and discipline are not enforced Soldiers will do....for a lack of a better term, stupid shit!
Now I don't agree with unit runs, that's ridiculous however, MWR sponsored runs happen at least once a month. I am currently deployed to Bagram and the things I see Soldiers doing is out of control. There seems to be no supervision of enlisted Soldiers at all. The Green Bean is always packed, the MWR is always packed, Soldiers are wondering around aimlessly. It's pretty pathetic.
The APFT is a semi annual requirement. If the operational environment allows why wouldn't you conduct an APFT? Soldiers that are unsupervised by NCOs will sit around and do nothing for nine months, or they will lift weights and get so big they can't run 100 meters.
The reason discipline is so poor in the Army is because leaders let standards slip during deployments. It starts with little things like cuffing your sleeves, wearing eye pro that's not APEL approved, letting Soldiers un-tuck their P.T. shirts in the gym, etc. Once you let the little things slip you start a snowball effect.
I agree that some units go a little too far with some things in a deployed environment but discipline must be maintained whether deployed or back at home station in the U.S.
Now I don't agree with unit runs, that's ridiculous however, MWR sponsored runs happen at least once a month. I am currently deployed to Bagram and the things I see Soldiers doing is out of control. There seems to be no supervision of enlisted Soldiers at all. The Green Bean is always packed, the MWR is always packed, Soldiers are wondering around aimlessly. It's pretty pathetic.
The APFT is a semi annual requirement. If the operational environment allows why wouldn't you conduct an APFT? Soldiers that are unsupervised by NCOs will sit around and do nothing for nine months, or they will lift weights and get so big they can't run 100 meters.
The reason discipline is so poor in the Army is because leaders let standards slip during deployments. It starts with little things like cuffing your sleeves, wearing eye pro that's not APEL approved, letting Soldiers un-tuck their P.T. shirts in the gym, etc. Once you let the little things slip you start a snowball effect.
I agree that some units go a little too far with some things in a deployed environment but discipline must be maintained whether deployed or back at home station in the U.S.
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SFC (Join to see)
I agree with you SGM!! I have made some of the same corrections with soldiers in my unit. I have gone as far as printing out the APEL approved list so that I could show soldiers. I am also ok with APFT but just not at the expense of the mission. SM being flow from one place to another just for a APFT at the cost or risk of the mission. Discipline has to be forefront like you said SGM. I continue to make the same corrections as well as others but we have to get all leaders on the same page.
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SFC (Join to see) Time, time, time...we have been in a place way too long and complacency has crept in, so now we are starting to come up with ideas that sometime don't pass the common sense test. Would like to say this is something new, but unfortunately, it isn't!
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SFC (Join to see), I feel that it's a sign of progress! Please hear me out... although I don't enjoy some of our garrison-standard activities, I like what it signifies. Ideally, there would be no "garrison standard" versus "combat standard."
If we were able to maintain our garrison standards (e.g. clean boots, saluting officers, weekly hair cuts, crisp and clean uniforms, PMCSing our vehicles weekly, etc.) at all times, 24x7x365, whether garrison or deployed, no matter our location, WE WOULD. However, if we're short-staffed or feeling overwhelmed by our enemies, our enemies can see that they are winning because it's obvious we're sleep-deprived, dirty, lacking discipline, and have ill-prepared equipment.
Establishing garrison standards in our war zones is a signal to the enemy. They can see that we consider them to be no big deal because we're doing business as usual and not sweating them at all.
If we were able to maintain our garrison standards (e.g. clean boots, saluting officers, weekly hair cuts, crisp and clean uniforms, PMCSing our vehicles weekly, etc.) at all times, 24x7x365, whether garrison or deployed, no matter our location, WE WOULD. However, if we're short-staffed or feeling overwhelmed by our enemies, our enemies can see that they are winning because it's obvious we're sleep-deprived, dirty, lacking discipline, and have ill-prepared equipment.
Establishing garrison standards in our war zones is a signal to the enemy. They can see that we consider them to be no big deal because we're doing business as usual and not sweating them at all.
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SFC (Join to see)
The only issue I see with that SPC Thundercloud is that SM with treat it like Garrison and forget that they are in areas with real danger. I have seen to much of it already. SM are worried about what movie is playing or going out to the MWR instead of the real threat that they are there for. In a single word it is complacency. SM forget that they can get hurt or even worse don't take it seriously.
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