What mind set of a Soldier do you find to be detrimental to professional development?

SSG Plato, you are the tip of the spear, expected to mold a bunch of "off-the -block" civilians into a semblence of Soldiers prepared to live and die for their country and to live, breathe and sleep the Army values and ethic. I think you (and we) expect too much from the IET and AIT indoctrinators. There is no way in hell you can be expected to produce fully formed career minded Soldiers in 12 weeks. The process of educating the Army values starts with you, certainly, and I am sure you and your comrades do their best to bring these youngsters along, but It cannot be done, followed up and enforced at your level alone. It takes a culture of professionalism to teach and reinforce the process you start in IET. When I have to say a word about attitudes to senior SFCs and MSGs (those who should at least know when to keep their attitudes to themselves), then we are not at the point where we can stop talking about values and ethics. I can understand blowing off steam, and the process of dealing with unfortuneate circumstances, but NEVER let a junior see your potential lack of satisfaction show through. I may say that a situation distrubs me, but I will never let that statement affect my bearing. It is those who think that just because they are off duty they can act all 17 different kinds of F.U. that ruin it for our newer recruits. Just today I have had to correct several Soldiers, not about appearance (thought that was the reason I stopped them) but more importantly, about attitudes. Your attitude towards your job, whatever it is, colors your entire pallet of actions that is visible to the outside world, and actions, especially those that contradict your established or stated norms, are what impress others the most- and bad attitudes are the longest remembered.

The "I got mine" mentality is one I see often. This idea is damaging to the mission and morale of a unit, and runs in complete opposition to the Army Values.

.