Should Candor be part of the Army Values? Would the Army benefit from it?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:02:39 -0500

There are certain leaders whom we can be candid with and there's others who does not like to hear that someone else has a better plan/idea. Can we also take it if subordinate, two/three rank down, be candid with us and show no hard feelings or repercussion towards that individual.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 10:17 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:17:03 -0500

Candor has it's place. However, in many military situations candor is wasted. For example, an NCO sees an excellent moment to provide on-the-spot training and instructs his unit personnel to change the tire on a vehicle. Having one of the unit personnel being candid and saying: "it'd be a lot quicker if we just went back to the motor pool and got another vehicle and let this one be hauled back in for repair." While the comment may be candid..and on rare occasions correct..it's not the proper response.

There's a time and place for just about everything......but it's a rare commodity in the military.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 10:15 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:15:45 -0500

As a Senior Enlisted Leader I have told every Commanding Officer that there will never be a question of what is on mind. I will give them my full support to them and the Command in front of the crew, but if I did not agree with something I would let them know as soon as appropriate. I never had one of them tell me that they would want it any other way.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 10:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 22:25:33 -0500

Well, it's a double edged sword. There's a red flag in what you wrote: "someone else has a better plan/idea." Interesting. And what exactly makes you think that you have a better idea/plan. This is the problem. Someone falls in love with their own thought and assumes it's phenomenal because he/she thought of it.

Frankly, I think it depends on the approach, timing, and audience. If you sharp-shoot a fully developed plan in front of the whole staff when input was not requested, you are pretty much guaranteeing that you will be ignored or worse. I find that most people are fairly reasonable and open during the initial planning phases especially when you ask questions like, "did you consider...?" or "could we try...?" rather than trying to cram your brainchild down someone else's throat.

I have seen it time and again where people think they are being side-stepped or belittled because of their rank. Unlikely. It generally has to do with how you handle the situation. I have run into some Prima Donnas at all different ranks, don't get me wrong, but I would say they are in the minority. Look, no one wants to hear that they are off track. If you consider that fact before making your remarks, you might find better reception.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Dec 22 at 2014 10:32 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 10:32:51 -0500

Candour falls into integrity and honour, in my opinion. Also personal courage, respect, duty, professionalism...

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2015 7:42 AM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 07:42:13 -0500

Sir - Candor is part of the Army Values. Candor is found under Personal Courage.

ADRP 6-22 Army Leadership

Response by SFC Ian Lumgair made Feb 19 at 2015 9:44 AM

SFC Ian Lumgair — Thu, 19 Feb 2015 09:44:53 -0500

I have always believed and acted on the the ideas of Honor:can be trusted in both word and deed. Integrity:absolutely honest and dependable, always stands for and does what’s right
,displays the highest standards of loyalty and integrity, exemplifies highest standards of integrity and moral conviction, and his honesty and integrity is always above reproach. these two Army Values embody the idea of Candor. Leaders are stressed with the idea that there is a time and place for everything. In the stress of the moment stopping to listen to another opinion can go three ways. I can help, It can hinder, or it can make no difference. Unless what you are doing violates regulation or the law then candor (honor and integrity) is a absolute must. Candor is an unspoken value in the ranks because It is embodied in the Army Values of honor and integrity. Its is also embodied by the vary rank structure we employ Officers are not paired with SNCO's so they can be friends? NO, the SNCO is there is lend his experience to the officers leadership position. This is not supposed to be easy, it is supposed to be challenging for both of them. On the Big Army front what we/they (the enlisted) do not need is more catch phrases, stuff to put in they wallets or a new tag to hang around there dog tags or yet another required PP presentation and hour of training time lost to try to teach something. Something that in most instances cannot be taught it must be learned.

Response by SFC Stephen Hester made Apr 14 at 2015 6:42 AM

SFC Stephen Hester — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 06:42:45 -0400

Candor shouldn't be a stand-alone value. It's a personal quality; you either have the courage to say what needs to be said or you don't. Candor also involves Honesty, Integrity and Respect. Leaders must encourage Soldiers to speak with candor because that is often the only way problems get identified and fixed. Unfortunately there are leaders who encourage candor as long as the troops are saying what the leader wants to hear and anything else is disrespect.

It DOES NOT mean saying whatever you feel like and pissing people off simply because you think you have the right to.