Pride. Is there a lack of it?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 01:05:19 -0400

"I will instill pride in all I train, Pride in self, in the Army, and in country." - Drill Sergeant creed.

How do we get back the sense of pride of being a Soldier? The pride of wearing that U.S. Army name-tape? And of course, the pride of being an American.

Are we as Leaders failing them or is society to blame?

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 16 at 2015 2:05 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 02:05:43 -0400

I didn't know we were having a pride issue within the military. I always felt that the ones who joined and continue to serve had it going on. I have to admit that I retired at a good time. There is a lot of stuff going on that is making my jaw hit the ground.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 2:44 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 02:44:42 -0400

SSG,
You are right about the lack of pride in today's Army. I think that the lack of pride comes from a lack of education on the heroes of the past. The problem is also the solution though. I think that proper education on the our heritage and past would help to instill more pride at all levels. Learning about guys like MAJ Dick Winters, MAJ Audie Murphy ect. Should be emphasized more. This could probably also be applied towards civilian education, but there one would have to go seek it out. Learning our past would make people understand the previous sacrifices for our country and the uniform we wear. I know that this type of education has worked for me.

Response by SSG Kevin McCulley made Jun 16 at 2015 3:02 AM

SSG Kevin McCulley — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 03:02:49 -0400

Officers are. They are the ones planning and overseeing the destruction of the Martial Culture.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 8:06 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:06:46 -0400

SSG Saintil, there is plenty of pride. Just different flavors of it. The intent of the Drill Sergeant Creed is to nurture, harness, and focus pride beyond the personal, to the point of high individual morale that creates and perpetuates unit esprit de corps.
There will always be someone people who lack the patriot gene, the pride gene, the empathy gene, the leadership gene, and so on. Some of them can learn from positive examples that drill sergeants can set.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Jun 16 at 2015 8:28 AM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:28:41 -0400

I think most things in leadership, start with the leader?

We get back the sense of pride in being a Soldier by reminding soldiers what an awesome thing they have accomplished in the last decade and a half. Have we ever lost the pride of wearing the uniform? I never did. I know I have never lost pride in being an United States citizen. There have been times when I was not happy with what our government has done, but never had any issue with OUR people.

Only you can answer if you are failing your soldiers, but society is only a reflection of who we are. Are there problems, always. Is there anything that we should have cause not to be proud of? If there is, fix it. Everything, good or bad, starts with you. If you don't think your soldiers have enough pride in _________ train them. If you do not have pride in ________, take charge.

God Bless.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 8:46 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:46:59 -0400

Leaders (at all levels) instill pride. People are proud to follow good leaders... Proud to be a part of something bigger - if it has leadership people believe in.

Leaders set the example of what others emulate.

Most of all, people are proud of RESULTS. Those that produce the positive results that promote proud followers will find themselves in command of a proud bunch - proud of their collective results.

Response by Sgt Nick Marshall made Jun 16 at 2015 8:51 AM

Sgt Nick Marshall — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:51:24 -0400

Pride goeth before the fall, and isn't pride one of the deadly sins? There is a place for pride, but it should be tempered with humbleness.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jun 16 at 2015 8:55 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 08:55:32 -0400

We got pride, black pride, gay pride, bronie pride, furry pride. We got lots of pride. What we lack is respect. Respect for self and respect for others.
As for who is to blame, plenty of that to go around. It starts with the society and cultures we recruit from and it's built into the developing entitlement culture of the military hierarchy. We don't take responsibility and we don't give respect.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 16 at 2015 9:01 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 09:01:21 -0400

I left the Army in 2012 and I can tell you there was a lot of pride in my Brigade and down trace units about their mission, their upcoming deployments, and serving their country. Now there were over 2,800 soldiers in that footprint, so I'm sure there were some soldiers that had issues. To say a command is perfect is crap and there would be no need for anyone from the Commander, CSM, Battalion Commanders/CSMs down to the Company Commanders/1SG and the entire NCO Corp if every organization were perfect. You are going to have individual that need coaching, mentoring, and in some cases a nice "swift kick in the seat of the pants" (not physically, but metaphorically). That sense of pride comes from the organization and culture that has been developed. The cultures of organizations are going to be different throughout the services and various organizations based on the command climate, the level of training, the mission, and the type of units. Like a lot of the responses pride is driven by these factors, but it is also a self-starter attitude that each soldier carries with them on a daily basis. Poor attitude, lazy work effort, I don't care syndrome, etc.... can all lead to a lack of pride in oneself and in the organization, or even their country. Our job as leaders is to find a way to move both the organizational pride and individual pride in the right direction. That's my philosophy for today!

Response by SSG Laureano Pabon made Jun 16 at 2015 10:38 AM

SSG Laureano Pabon — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 10:38:10 -0400

At a very personal level, to me the day I joined I was a Civilian.
In my eyes the Drill Sergeants creed was : " I will instill fear in your eyes the very first second you see me", and sure enough they did. But shortly after that I noted one thing, they were teaching me how to become a soldier, so the fear was no more.
The way you wrote your questions SSG Private RallyPoint Member only reminds me of the post nam err. I seen this same kind of signs during my time. Peace time, no war, you hear allot of soldiers whom where leaving say "Short 30 days and a cot". Some however never said a word. New to the military life, I was only focused on activities that dealt with my job. Leadership didn't have a meaning in my life and the job of an NCO were non existence.
I was a private at the time lesser then a PFC. My team consisted of 1 SSG, 1 SGT, 1 LT and me. So I was the baby of the group and youngest and most pampered. These NCO's were all Vietnam war veterans. But it was the way they conducted themselves with me and the amount of knowledge they had that caused me to be more like them in the future. Sure they get burned out, but they followed orders as if it where with pride. Sometimes they would get so burned out that I had no real choice but to seriously help them to they can get some rest. In my career that was the last time I was ever assigned to a team, after that I was all alone. But I kept the knowledge I learned from them, followed it and while promotion for me was rather slow, because I never had an NCO to evaluate me or send me to a promotion board, my attitude was still high and my focus was in the unit as a whole. Commo was my job. Some how some way I was eventually promoted, but learned some really good things. I remember a book I read written by a CSM on leadership and made it mines. Later on I had the pleasure of getting an another SSG whom became my NCO IC another Nam Veteran but this one was assigned to the 5th SFG in Nam and with him I learned the rest. Not just more about my job but leadership and dedication. I can only tell you one thing, when I became SSG, I was in the Army reserves and that rank was given to me. Perhaps because I knew that many NCO's really give orders then train, I was assign a new team this time all lower ranking and I knew them, because I understood them. I knew what they lacked and I made sure they that they knew it. I gave them classes in Military leadership and made them take the role of leaders, I help them become teachers by having them read the books and train each other, I delegated authority to each of them and allowed them to cross train each other in there jobs. I allowed them to conduct inspections to each other and taught them personally the traits of leadership. Most interesting was that without me knowing I was given a Soldier such as what you listed above and taught him, delegated authority to him and allowed his peers evaluate his performance so he can be aware of himself as a leader and he was rather receptive to that. All I know was that his NCO IC came back to me and asked me "What the hell did you do to get 8 hours of work out of him when I can't even get 10 mins?", I was shell shock when I heard that. Sorry to say but there are many types of leaders in the Military and there are many ways for NCO's to teach (To make future leaders), but my real concern was more my troops and I had to be certain that during an act of War will they be able to survive alone in a battle zone if they became detached. If during a act of WAR and I got KIA, will my soldiers be able to do my job and theirs with out difficulty and provide support to the unit as a whole and keep them alive? If the answer is yes then I did my job. If the answer is no, then I have work to do. My team once I train them get the respect of an NCO from me no matter what rank they may have. I as a leader have confidence in each of the them to carry out any goal placed on us to support the entire unit. They will know where I am all the time and I will know where they are all the time as well. Teach a PFC to become a real leader and you will see a difference, teach him DMC and the meaning and you will get a different attitude, make him a leader ever so often with the cooperation of those higher ranking them him and you will get work. Let them feel what its like to be an SSG, teach them your job and you will have a team. The 1st SGT or CSM can call me and the team will function alone with out slacking off. You as a leader will be sure of one thing, the things that you needed done will be done. But like I said there are different types of leaders and we are not all the same, best part is when your subordinates know about this about themselves then it will be most interesting to know how there going to handle it.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 1:44 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 13:44:10 -0400

Being a friend of many Marines I see the great amount of pride they have. Pride in uniform, duty, and ultimately the corps. Many soldiers I've seen could care less about how their uniform looks, they could care less about their job, and unfortunately care less that they are part of The United States Army. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of motivated/dedicated Soldiers and NCOs that I see, but a vast amount do not have that pride. Being a Private I guess I cannot speak much but when I get up in rank I want to change that and the mindset of soldiers. I believe that starts with our leadership examplifying their own personal pride and then holding their soldiers to a higher standard. That's my idealology.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 16 at 2015 2:36 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 14:36:58 -0400

I see the current wars, society's and recruits view on the military as moderating variables. However, I cant articulate it now.

Response by SFC Terry Murphy made Jun 16 at 2015 3:23 PM

SFC Terry Murphy — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 15:23:14 -0400

I have heard the terms Gay pride, black pride, proud women, proud Hispanic, pride this, pride that. However, when ever the term white pride is mentioned, it is always referred to as a racist term. Everyone needs to get beyond all of this self pride and be proud to be an American, pride in being a soldier, pride in serving their country, proud of their unit, proud to be an Infantryman, tanker, cook, clerk or whatever their job is. If you are proud of yourself in that manner, you will always try to do your best. I see lack of pride in just being a soldier in some of today's soldiers that I know. They only think about themselves. They complain and tell the younger soldiers how bad their unit is, how their current duty assignment sucks, how their leaders are the worst ever and don't care about soldiers. I don't know if this is right or wrong, but to disparage your unit, saps the pride out of the young soldiers and has a ripple effect on the whole unit, division, and in turn the Army.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 7:20 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 16 Jun 2015 19:20:11 -0400

its a combination of society changing (failing to me) and weak leadership. No one takes ownership for messing up anymore. People blame everybody and everything if their life goes bad.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 12:07 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 00:07:41 -0400

I don't believe we have lost the pride that comes along with wearing the uniform and serving in one of the worlds greatest militaries. However, I do believe many of us(not I), have lost the motivation to coach, lead, and mentor our soldiers properly. Therefore, the lack of motivation is subsequently in the hands of our Soldiers as well. I think the lack of drive and the loss of prevelant leaders whom still truly take care of their soldiers is something that is slowly dwindling. There are plenty of phenomenal leaders out there. And we need to instill the motivation in our troops to become those same great leaders.

Response by SPC Larry Boutwell made Jun 17 at 2015 1:06 PM

SPC Larry Boutwell — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 13:06:38 -0400

When we have shit to be proud of again....army has taken a nose dive since 05.....

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 17 at 2015 2:47 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 14:47:33 -0400

I will make an assumption many recruits rarely took pride in anything. They did not cram on their homework every day, they did not play sports in the hot sun swearing and wishing for something to drink, they rarely tried hard at anything and never felt pride for just punching the clock.

I have not accomplished that much in my life, but for what I did accomplished I tried hard at. Thus I felt a little bit of pride for knowing I had to work hard on my endeavors in my life.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 9:17 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:17:01 -0400

I don't know what the percentage may be now, but, I say Hell, yes, there is. When ages-old traditions are removed for PC purposes, you are on that slippery slope to stay!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2015 9:37 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 Jun 2015 21:37:25 -0400

simple answer: yes.

complex answer: no, we have pride. Pride in many things, however there seems to be a shortage of pride in some of the areas that we "old timers" are accustomed to.

We are in a new generation and new stage of the Army. We are demanding so much more of our Soldiers, while providing so much less. Budget cuts, sequestration and the ripple effect that goes with it are taking their toll on morale. In addition, changes in the focus of leadership (things that were never removed, but rather ignored for most of the past 15 years) have propelled us into a new era. We are literally rebuilding our modern Army into a modern fighting force. We have limited manpower (overall Army numbers are nearly to the reduced 490,000 mark) and more taskings, that were previously handled by contractors. Morale is suffering right now, but will begin to rebuild as our posts and units re-gain their new battle rhythms. The pride that comes with it, must be instilled by outstanding leadership (as our NCO creed states, in the second paragraph). We must think critically and manage our personnel efficiently. When the Soldiers entrusted to our care understand that we are truly focused on their welfare, as well as mission accomplishment (again second paragraph in the NCO creed). They will go to the ends of the earth for whatever we tell them we need.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 12:30 PM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:30:00 -0400

Society. It's the problem with a lot of our issues

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 12:36 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:36:31 -0400

Pride is a self driven concept. That being said, I still believe it is our duty as leaders to help develop and instill pride in those whom we lead. Leadership can make or break a Soldier's pride in self, organization and service. I can say that my command environment was critical to my pride in the organization. But the pride i feel in wearing this uniform comes from within myself and the love i have for my Country and the Army. That pride carries over into my leadership style. Leadership that projects the positive in the way they influence Soldiers can impact their formations and spread throughtout as Soldiers transition from one unit to the next. So focus on your piece of the pie and you will impact the pride of others thruough those that you inspire.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 2:44 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:44:46 -0400

I am reading a ton of blame going to DS's and society...

Here's a problem: DS BLANK " In the real army..." It's the Army. There is no division.

Another problem: when I came to my new unit and tell soldiers to go to parade rest they look at me like I'm crazy.

When I called at ease for the 1SG at the first meeting I was at, the lazy and slovenly way people looked around and rose.

I don't know what the problem is, only that I, me personally, can only control me and those under me.

Oh wait, so can everyone else...

Response by SPC John Galvin made Jun 19 at 2015 12:04 PM

SPC John Galvin — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 12:04:47 -0400

This is something that I have had to do a total gig check on myself recently. I have been going through some rough times, lost house, no work, illness that brought me to the brink of darkness and pretty much ready to deploy to the creators realm. I walked in to a veterans assistance center in my town for some help in finding quarters til things got better. When I came in a fellow vet that was working the desk helped me with some paperwork etc. He then told me to keep my head up high, that no matter how low I was feeling, I was still a member of one of the greatest armed forces in the world, and to be proud. I almost cried. It was then I started thinking of my basic days, what my DI imparted to us. When we graduated, he called us soldiers: He refused to call us anything but privates in training. We were now part of something that a small percentage of our population would ever achieve or attempt. That gut check had me standing tall when I walked out. No matter what I was going through, I was going to remember that remedial training from a fellow vet. That is something we need to impart to our new troops, drop the self and pick up the pride of being a service member. We should all have that training, some have it, some need it. We need to make sure that pride is never forgotten, from field officers on down to the empty chested boot wearer, pride is the medal we do not have to pin to our uniform, it is something we should carry in our hearts and in our actions. Thanks for this post.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 10:59 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 22:59:10 -0400

I can only speak for a Cav unit. From what I've seen and know to be true is that its awfully hard for an infantryman to have mass amounts of pride in his profession when he never gets to practice that profession. Garrison life kills infantrymen (obviously not literally). But we hate it. Sure not getting killed is fantastic and not watching your friends die or having to kill anyone is equally nice, but thats not what we're here for. That's where pride is born. In combat, in feats of heroism, in comraderie, surviving danger, eliminating the enemy, embracing the suck in the shit and doing your job. Motorpool mondays, week after week of pointless incessant regs being passed down from higher, details for days... Might as well be a POG and chalk your 11B career up as a loss. Its not what we trained for, not what we expected, and not what we want. And its demotivating as fuck. I dont know if its modern times or just this unit or what, but deployments are few and far between and training is even rarer than that. Like never. I got lucky and managed to snag the last trip to AF this units doing for a WHILE, and even that was a short 5 months. Newer guys here hate their jobs because they never do them. They dont know what their job is to have pride in it. Sure I mean PT read your notes blah blah that shits only part of it. Its easy for all you older more experienced men, yallve been there done that and told the stories to prove it. You can say all day that teaching and educating about the past and what yall have done will give us pride to last our whole life long, but we can only ride the shoulders of our precursors for so long before our feet touch the ground and we dont know who or what we are. Nothing can be done about deployments, I understand. But we need more training. RELEVANT training that MAKES SENSE. Confidence in our abilities, movements, marksmanship, tactics. We have to be professionals in order to begin to have pride in our profession. I could also get into toxic leadership but that would turn this comment into an english paper. Hooooahh... Ah. Hit the leather and ride.

Response by SGT S Sharpless made Jun 24 at 2015 3:36 PM

SGT S Sharpless — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 15:36:56 -0400

I think it's a leadership issue as well as societal. Most leaders don't take pride in anything and most soldiers mimic what they see.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 5:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 17:47:04 -0400

I say we only allowing ones to join and remain in the military that know how to act like they have any pride for the uniform. The lack of pride in this day and age is sucking. People not getting out of their car because the flag is about to go off and people posting videos of themselves falling on coffins when they are practicing for funeral detail. This is stuff that a real Soldier wouldn't do.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 12:07 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 12:07:56 -0400

I think that is a great question that all of us should be asking; I think as a leader (at every level from team up) we need to help our teammates find pride in themselves, their work and the team. When I was a young enlisted guy, I was a lot more cynical at all the "false moto" that I saw, now I understand that most of it probably wasn't false.

I am proud to be a Soldier, and am proud to work with leaders that consider questions like this...thanks for starting this discussion.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 5:53 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 17:53:18 -0400

To be honest, pride is more of a sense of reflection. Some people, both young and old, have little achievements to feel proud of. The military can instill pride to self a greater cause then yourself. However it can make you like you are just a cog in a machine and you don't matter. It should not only be up to leaders but the soldier's battle to help understand that and to motivate them to make their own goals. It is ultimately up to that soldier to take initiative to get off their butts and just do something about it, legally and morally of course.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2015 12:40 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 00:40:35 -0400

I am still new to the army (3 years) so I can only speak for my experience on Bragg but the culture there seems to down play anyone wanting to take pride in the fact that we are soldiers. Everyone wants to treat the army like a day job. I see a lot of young soldiers like myself giving people shit about wearing a unit shirt outside of work or having a social media picture in uniform. I am dam proud of the fact I'm part of the most powerful fighting force this planet has ever seen and I don't understand how that is lost on the majority of joes.

I don't know how the pride was lost or who's job it is to instill pride in us but it needs to start from the bottom. Take that starry eyed cherry and nurture that hooah he's still got in his heart haha before spcs like me tell him to bury it because it's not cool.

Response by SPC George Rudenko made Jul 6 at 2015 1:00 AM

SPC George Rudenko — Mon, 06 Jul 2015 01:00:31 -0400

Yes. We stopped putting America first. Asian-American, pacific islander, or other terms without America in it. It's an individuals world, and they all want you to hear them. Team concept is lost, and that is why military is so hard for some.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2015 12:49 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 00:49:54 -0400

Its much better than the days I was on active duty in the years just after Vietnam ended. I spend a lot of time on military installations. Most young soldiers (and people from the other branches as well) I talk to seem to have that Hoo-ah spirit. Most seem to have the attitude that they want to be part of the Army. I get a kick out to talking to them and mentoring them. As an Army retiree make me feel proud to be a soldier.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 9 at 2015 9:00 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 09 Jul 2015 09:00:04 -0400

I believe much of new generation does not have a strong constitution and will power. They grew up in their little world and feel lost when they abdicate their locus of control. I question if they played sports as one learns discipline, hard work, and the desire to win.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2015 1:25 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 01:25:49 -0400

I believe this pride needs to begin with the people in a front of the formations. If we lead by example then this pride will become contagious.

Response by SPC James Seigars made Aug 16 at 2015 12:09 AM

SPC James Seigars — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 00:09:01 -0400

I think it is a combination of the two. If Society as a whole is proud of the military then the personel are proud of serving and as an extension of that leaders are prouder of their service & how they train their servicemen/women. What leaders have to be able to do is get their students/units to be proud when the country/world isn't showing their pride in the military. It is up to leaders to stand above themselves and their own sense of pride in service or lack thereof and find a way to instill that pride in their troops. The sooner they can do that the sooner I believe we will see a decline in suicides, dui's, failed drug tests, etc. Though there are other factors that go into why service people do these things that are beyond external control, the lack of pride in service, accountability of actions and blurring of lines in the boss/friend role of leaders are factors that can and need to be changed if the military wants it's members to be proud of their service.

Response by SSgt Liam Babington made Sep 10 at 2015 7:19 PM

SSgt Liam Babington — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:19:03 -0400

Pride starts with self awareness of a lack of pride.. no uniform no badge earned will sustain pride for long. It MUST be a WE-ME thing....best if it comes from the heart...from with in! That is what my father taught me!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 7:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 19:57:32 -0400

Good post! I just got off the trail as a Drill Sergeant and I honestly don't believe it is the leaders fault. The Army has changed so much. We as drill sergeants and leaders can only follow the rules given to us. Don't get me wrong, I was still able to instill pride and discipline in my soldiers and abide by the guidelines set forwarth in TR 350-6. Again, I don't think it is the leaders fault.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 8:57 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 20:57:31 -0400

I believe it is a mix of both worlds. today's society has become such a sense of "what is in it for me?!" "what can YOU give me?" "I don't wanna do that, to get this" and so on. it also falls down on the toxic leaders out there as well who will say next to joe/jane "well top is being an A$$, F this, this is stupid, can't wait to ETS". These here are a formula for disaster and reduce the pride of the Military and morale overall.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 15 at 2015 6:35 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:35:44 -0400

NEED HELP ASAP!!
I got married on 15Aug, returned to my unit and filed for bah/bas on 24Aug. It was sent to my Btn S1 on 25Aug, it is now 15Sep and it was just filed today after I have paid for a month or rent, and had a month automaticly pulled from my pay, and my bah was not in my pay yet will not start until 1Oct. Can i file anything against the nco through JAG or IG for not doing it because they pulled the money from my check which wasnt enough to cover it? So im out $937 and still have bill so because of one nco who neglected to file paperwork that all he had to do is sign now i can not support my wife or myself because i dont have any money in my acct. Any options i have?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 15 at 2015 6:40 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 18:40:12 -0400

I think many of the youth have not learned valuable lessons by 18. After 18 it appears they think they already know about adulthood.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 15 at 2015 2:57 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 15 Dec 2015 14:57:26 -0500

Pride is something someone has inside. They need to do their best, but often don't.

Response by PV2 Shawn Tyrrell made Dec 29 at 2015 9:54 AM

PV2 Shawn Tyrrell — Tue, 29 Dec 2015 09:54:09 -0500

I feel most of it is society, and the imposters. Both add to the pride, but we as soldiers present or prior need to address these issues tactfully. People see videos of military people going off on imposters, and that doesn't look good. I was active duty late '80s, then it was oh your military, no more. I still take pride in my service. I try every time I am in public to let them see my pride. The active duty guys I have meet seem to have a lot of pride. But this is a issue that I think everyone well see differently.

Response by CPL Dan Nelson made Jun 28 at 2016 11:25 AM

CPL Dan Nelson — Tue, 28 Jun 2016 11:25:32 -0400

Outside of indoctrinations: No cell phones, facebook, or any other form of social media app, camera, or non governmental laptop allowed in the workplace. No Active Duty soldier, Reserve, National Guard; outside of Officers and Senior NCO's E-7 and above should have Facebook, or any other social media application, as it threatens operational security and the individual with the account is representing the Military Organizational ethos as a whole.
Each company, from top to bottom, should have two, at maximum, representatives on social media. The rest of the Company should not be concerned.

Propoganda mascarading as the First Amendment, has ninja chopped the skulls full of mush, so much so, that basic Constituitional Principles are in jeopardy.

Society as a whole is complacent.