Standards on Deployment

CPT Michael Barden is spot on in discretionary application of rules and regulations. A never ending problem in Afghanistan was for guys to come off a mission and try to grab some chow before the mess hall closed only to be intercepted by some CSM in a clean and fresh uniform and be told they couldn't eat because they were out of uniform, too dirty or something else.

Piss me off to no end! There is a time and place for everything. That is not the time nor the place for enforcing that particular reg. He'll get chow, then he can worry about cleaning his weapon and anything else he needs to do before he gets some rack time, before he gets up and does it again.

Standards are standards and should be enforced at all times. If they are not going to be enforced, they should not exist.

Failure to enforce standards of conduct or appearance, regardless of the reason or location, is a slippery slope that should not be allowed to exist.

If there are to be different standards depending on the situation, location, etc., they should be codified as such and clearly stated in the regulations/standards.

Things in combat are different than in garrison: namely you are fulfilling your primary purpose. you are looking to kill the enemy, and not get killed. This is generally a lower priority in garrison. This means a new primary focus.

The standards that must be enforced first are those relating to how you kill the enemy and don't get killed yourself. Is your weapon clean? Do you know where your leader, buddies, the enemy are? Do you know how to call for help and save your buddies' lives? Have you written, briefed and rehearsed the order, conducted pre-combat checks and inspections? Are you carrying out the right continuing actions? THESE are the regulations that must be enforced first.

Then, and only then can we start quibbling about uniforms, grooming standards, customs and courtesies in the way we do in the rear.

Or as one of my IOC instructors put it: If I see a Marine without a shave I ask him for his weapon, if it's clean I ask him to show me his vehicle (or fighting position) if it's maintained, clean, in working order and properly set I ask him to show me his Marines, or quiz his knowledge. If all of these are tight I commend him on his good work and focus, and tell him to shave (or clean his uniform) at next opportunity. If any of these are lacking I find his next level NCO and we review his time management priorities.