Is the hypocrisy of senior leaders becoming problematic and leading the force towards an integrity crisis?

New, no but, it seems to have become increasingly more common lately. Yes everyone makes mistakes but, the the rampant spread of "rules don't apply to me" is a little concerning.

1SG (Join to see) I would staunchly agree with you on that. We seen it at the VIP culture at Fort Bragg where a COL felt he knew better than the riggers in jumping a different chute. We see it all over at all levels. I over heard some soldiers recently, a few of them were Sergeants, that were saying that they didn't need to train on what was being taught because they knew it already and did it before. I stopped them right there and called them out. I asked them why there were so special? Why were able to skip out on training that others had to do? Why are they above regulations that requires units to train on this? He didn't say anything more than Roger. I don't know if they realized their actions. But that is where it starts. We are pushing so much to have strong individuals it is back firing. You have soldiers at all levels think they are too good and can get away with something. Whether it be getting an different unapproved chute, skipping training, or having an affair with a reporter they thought they were above it.

I was reading about Jim Gavin. He was a great leader and led the way with some great ideas. He didn't rest on his prior accomplishments and just go from there. He wanted a stronger team. He called out others. He wrote of topics there were counter to the current logic. The point is that he was what we should be as leaders. If you see something that isn't right we should be brave enough to question it. He didn't use his past to get over on anyone. Today so many use it to launch their career instead of making the Army a better place. That individualistic approach will get them in trouble. Some of my actions have not been in line with what I perceive to be the right direction in which things should be going. I am going to call it out. Has it cost me some fanfare, yes. I am not the one you want if you want a guy to pat you on the back. I am the guy that is going to tell you that you made a bad plan and if you go with it you will make a mistake. But really now a days no one wants to hear that.

I will leave you with words from CSM Purdy:

"Some senior NCOs are nothing more than bootlickers, who sing the "Army of One" song to their superior officers everyday. Commanders need to hear the good, bad and the ugly, and then be given good solid recommendations. They need their senior NCOs to be TRAINERS. LEAD BY EXAMPLE. DO as the troops do. LEAD FROM THE FRONT. GET IN THE DIRT. This bullshit of "I have done that" is garbage. What you are doing now is what counts. Quit worrying about your next assignment. Focus on your mission now. Your mission is to train soldiers for war, and it's damned hard work. If you do it right you will leave the Army in worse shape physically than when you came in. BE HARD BUT FAIR. You must have MORAL COURAGE."

""Moral courage" means telling your commander what he wants to hear these days. I was condemned by my peers and superiors for speaking up, and telling it like it was. I was called a relic from the past that should be put in a glass case. I was focused on training for war not peace. Discipline was my watchword, and the soldiers did not decide what punishment was right or wrong where I served as CSM. I was the Chief Trainer. The buck stopped with me. I participated in all training and lead by example. I was told by a Division CSM that I would never serve above BN level because I was too intrusive. That means I scared commanders with the truth. The next thing he asked was why do you train with your soldiers? The question was shocking, but the answer was simple. When I speak everyone listens. That went over his head like a tent. I carried a rifle not a pistol, and I damn well knew how to use that weapon and my soldiers knew how to use their weapons as well."

Great post. I know this is a little off topic, but one of the things that used to get under my skin as an NCO was when an officer would assign him a pistol when the MTOE had the weapon assigned to a driver. There is nothing more frustrating than a leader abusing his authority. However, it pushed me harder to not do that, and realy try and be a example to my fellow soldiers.

This sort of thing used to be hidden, if you didn't see it happen... it didn't happen and if did see it happen, you were obliged to keep your mouth shut about it. The impetus to hold leaders publicly accountable may pose some new challenges, however it's still an improvement.

I agree, because wars bring a terrible change of soldiers on both sides. We never learn mistakes from the past only when bad judgement happens. The belief of self discipline and principles come a long way of overall leadership among men and women. Self respect in regards of treating people as you would be treated regardless how much of an A hole they are.