Is there a place in the Army for the "me, my, and I" mentality?

SFC Christopher Perry — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:24:07 -0400

The me, my and I mentality. Is there any place for it in today's Army?

Those of you who are guilty of it, may want to listen very closely to the answers.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 13 at 2015 8:28 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:28:39 -0400

No, That's why, IMHO, "Army of one" failed.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made May 13 at 2015 8:28 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:28:25 -0400

In a downsizing Army which forces everyone to do everything they can to get ahead of their peers or face the ax, selfishness is inevitable. Team players will be appreciated, but the selfish will have all the cool guy schools, badges and awards. While you're taking care of the mission and the troops, SGT Selfishface is at the Audie Murphy board. Come QMP/Promotion board time, SGT Selfishface will look much better than you on paper... Guess who's leaving the service.... Not him...

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 13 at 2015 8:30 PM

SGT Richard H. — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:30:33 -0400

Yes there is.

What can "I" do to make "MY" team a better, stronger, unit that can rely on "ME"?

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 8:36 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:36:25 -0400

SFC Christopher Perry, you sound bitter?! Would you like to share lol? ;-)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 8:37 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:37:53 -0400

No. Usually I see it catch up with em later. Those bridges they burned from not being a team player, they come back to haunt them. The military is a small small world, and if you get a rep for only looking out for number one, you will have a lot more targets than you could ever imagine.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made May 13 at 2015 8:40 PM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:40:21 -0400

Everyone must be a team player but I also feel that you are your best advocate! If you don't take care of yourself many times no one else will. I've found this to be true many times in my career.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 13 at 2015 8:41 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:41:58 -0400

Yes. But people aren't properly trained on how to use it.

The way an "I" gets ahead is by dragging "We" with them. Once someone with the I, Me, My mentality learns that, they can accomplish greatness.

As an example. You are a member of a Team (4 people). You want to do X. The best way to do X is find out what your Teammates want to do. They want to do Y, Z, & W. You coordinate those things, and when it comes time to do X, you have people who are willing to help. That's the micro level.

It's absolutely self-serving. But... you helped your buddies accomplish their goals along the way. "If" their goals coincide with your goals as well, more the better.

So let's say one of your Teammates wants to get his PT score up. Rock on. You need to get yours up anyways for your goal of X. Help him. It costs you nothing other than the investment you were already making, and now you have a mutual goal.

It's tailored "greed" but everyone wins.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made May 13 at 2015 8:56 PM

SrA Daniel Hunter — Wed, 13 May 2015 20:56:05 -0400

Sure, it's called Latrine Duty.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 13 at 2015 9:56 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 13 May 2015 21:56:30 -0400

Is that the new army?

Response by COL Charles Williams made May 13 at 2015 11:47 PM

COL Charles Williams — Wed, 13 May 2015 23:47:16 -0400

NOOOOO! My last Brigade Commander in Iraq... and I love him dearly, could not speak without saying I, me, mine.... The Brigade had over 8,000 service members (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Allies)... He did nothing on his own... I got tied of hearing My Brigade... me, I....

I have always worked hard to say we, us, etc... SFC Christopher Perry

Wait, I stand corrected. There is a place, when it comes to saying "I am responsible, and it is my fault!"

Response by SPC Angel Guma made May 13 at 2015 11:48 PM

SPC Angel Guma — Wed, 13 May 2015 23:48:38 -0400

Depends of the individualism is self-serving, or as SGT Richard Hanner posts out, meant to empower the Army.

Knowing the difference between the two is straight-up difficult at first. Especially when you don't know the person you are dealing with.

As an aside, I don't think this is a problem with military culture per se. This is more of a problem with society, and the military by default is going to be affected.

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 14 at 2015 5:34 AM

SFC Stephen King — Thu, 14 May 2015 05:34:32 -0400

Me and I are a common occurrences in the Army today. These leader's are also quick to point the finger at someone else when something goes wrong "it's not my fault they (my squad, platoon or individual Soldier) screwed up a reoccurring statement of the me, I self centered leader. Unfortunately, In both these situations the Me and Them will be exposed yet it may take some time to do so.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 7:53 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:53:50 -0400

Well, my section is MY work family, and sometimes I have to stop to take care of MY family, but I can't accomplish anything without the Soldiers in MY section rendering ME useless.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2015 7:55 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 May 2015 07:55:29 -0400

Also, "there is no I in team, but there is an I in pie" - Shaun of the Dead

Response by SrA Edward Vong made May 14 at 2015 9:09 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Thu, 14 May 2015 09:09:25 -0400

Only when the me, my and I mentality will positively affect the team, mission and morale.

Response by SSG John Erny made May 14 at 2015 2:15 PM

SSG John Erny — Thu, 14 May 2015 14:15:18 -0400

"I" swear to faithfully serve...."My" career Path while serving...."me" Retired!

Response by SGT David T. made May 15 at 2015 1:27 PM

SGT David T. — Fri, 15 May 2015 13:27:26 -0400

Individualism is a hallmark of what it is to be an American. We need to remember that just because we enter the military, we do not stop being what makes us uniquely Americans. With that being said, it is up the leadership to inspire their troops so that the me myself and i is guided in a way that accomplishes the mission and develops their teams. The leader has to create synergy that helps the Soldiers meet their goals as well of that of the organization. This involves developing subordinates, recognizing and reward good performance as well as dealing with bad performance in a productive way. Simply throwing a wall up and being dictatorial in their approach to leadership will not be productive. Troops need to be inspired so that "I" wants to make the "WE" better. Simply demanding conformance will not yield good results. All comes back to the first rule we learn as leaders: take care of the Soldier.