What kind of disciplinary action do you think would be most effective in today's military?

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 02:01:25 -0400

I can't speak for other branches, but from an Air Force perspective I often find myself asking this question. Today, people are given paperwork for correction, and that's it. If you get enough paperwork following you, you get the boot. But what if we corrected these service members with things like hard labor instead of just kicking them out? Everyone can be put in line with enough convincing.

Response by PO1 Tony Holland made Aug 3 at 2016 4:18 AM

PO1 Tony Holland — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 04:18:29 -0400

I think that hard labor type punishments were more appropriate when dealing with draftees. Today's professional volunteer force is there because they want to be or at least think they want to be.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 7:26 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 07:26:57 -0400

I have the opposite opinion. Why should i waste my time supervising hard labor? Lets make it easier to kick out those that dont show the motivation to be here and spend that free time mentoring those that do

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 10:25 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 10:25:56 -0400

I think part of the issue is when paperwork is given as a punishment (not discipline), but then the leader doesn't think that they're shouldn't be any more input required. Airmen requiring paperwork should be closely monitored and encouraged when performing correctly following a negative outcome requiring formal counseling. This is often lacking. I'm not saying the troop isn't responsible for ensuring that they make a change, but it is lazy leadership to only be reactive with paperwork and not proactive with on the spot corrections and praise. It takes a lot less effort to intermittently give paperwork than to verbally and by example enforce regulations and standards from day to day. However, the day to day is what changes an environment.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 3 at 2016 12:47 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 12:47:27 -0400

It really depends on the reason they need to be disciplined. I'm not the type to just write up paperwork for the Hell of it, it'd have to be a serious enough charge. I've had Marines write papers on the tattoo policy when they got out of regs tattoos. But most offenses can be fixed with a simple correction and cleaning the head or PT. I think the only ones who genuinely got paperwork written up on them are the ones who got caught by someone outside the shop.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2016 3:30 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 15:30:36 -0400

Just paperwork? You don't have Extra Military Instruction?

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Aug 5 at 2016 4:04 PM

CPL Anthony Slaughter — Fri, 05 Aug 2016 16:04:24 -0400

Most behavioral problems with young Soldiers can be solved by applying enough extra PT. Sure, sometimes the situation warrants an Article 15 or whatnot, but just paperwork by itself is not going to solve the problem. Peer pressure is also a good motivator, since a Private who openly disrespects an NCO during the duty day will probably respond a little differently when he has to answer for it to a room full of angry E4's who's personal time just got taken away.

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 17 at 2016 7:53 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 19:53:12 -0400

Depends on the offense, the circumstances, the offender, the accuser, the command, etc. That is why leadership is art and not a flow chart.

Response by CPL James Deaton made Dec 3 at 2019 2:15 PM

CPL James Deaton — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 14:15:34 -0500

brig time and drop in rank depending on the offence

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2019 3:50 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 15:50:21 -0500

Know what motivates your troops. Everyone is motivated differently, one person may need to be yelled at to figure out they messed up while another person would be de-motivated by that and they would get it if you told them that they let you down. This isn't a one size fits all solution (you know, like what you're doing now)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2020 12:12 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Oct 2020 00:12:38 -0400

Corrective action needs to directly related to the offense. If you're late, you're required to be half an hour or more early. If gear is missing, a statement of charges. And they can always require a SM to give a class on the importance of doing a particular task correctly that they screwed up.
What's not ok is punishment that doesn't reflect the infraction. Wearing a tow chain around their neck for being late, or put on K.P. duty for an infraction ( we're busy enough in the kitchen, we don't need to babysit your problem child because you're to lazy to correct them properly your self).