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In the Army today, what do you find to be the best way to discipline a soldier?
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 13
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In my years the best thing that I have found to work with soldiers is to just level with them. Yes you are their superior and they need to show you the respect you have earned. However, being all about the aspects of your MOS and verbally or physically 'disciplining' them for every little thing will only lower their morale as an individual and eventually lead to a non-cohesive team. Sit with your soldiers and talk everything over and do the same with new soldiers you receive so they know what to expect. Treat them as you would like to be treated and inform them of how they should address you and act around you (typical C&C). When given a task, I have usually joined my soldiers to show that I'm in the fight with them. I have also lived up to to being fair and impartial in my recommendations.
I have had soldiers from other sections pleading to get on my teams just for what I've said above and each soldier under me has shown me the respect and discipline a soldier should display. Have I had a few bad eggs--yes, however I dealt with them accordingly and they fell in line with the rest of the team. Overall, it's all about management and leadership techniques (these are separate in most aspects and I don't want to expand on this unless asked--it'd take a while) and how you present yourself to your soldiers.
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SGT(P) (Join to see)
(I'll try not to be too sarcastic here, but bear with me.)
Wait. What? You mean you talk to your soldiers and treat them like adults? That seems pretty contrary to the standing Army tradition of treating them like, discouraging criticial/independant thinking, and not expecting the worse from them.
For years now I have preached that the Army as a whole needs to reevaluate the way that it attempts to lead soliders. We as an organization ask much from our troops, including asking them to lay down their life for us. Why does it seems to be such a difficult concept to understand, that if we treat our soldiers like poeple, they will WANT to follow us.
The NCO creed talks about knowing your soldiers. This does not mean having a leaders book, and asking them to do without question. Actually get to know your troops, talk to them, hell, even be their friend. Conduct yourself in a manner that will earn their respect, not demand it. I have served in several leadership positions, and not once I have asked my troops to do something I would not do, nor have I raised my voice.
I explained the situation, gave them all the information that I had, and then asked them to get to work with me. Informed soldiers are "happy" soldiers. They may not like the task they are assinged, however, if you treat them with respect, they will do it because the like you as a person and respect your position as their leader.
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SSG (ret) William Martin
I treat my soldiers under the "golden rule", treat people the way I want to be treated.
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CW2 (Join to see)
SGT Schoof, I like the sarcasm. Funny as it may be it speaks volumes of truth. To many NCO's are out there just trying to progress their careers, at times harming their soldiers' careers in the process by not addressing issues, treating them with equal respect, or even giving them the advice they need. All of these could be done with undisciplined and disciplined soldiers instead of just ignoring those that are deemed 'dirt bag'.
Sadly, I have to start working disciplinary processes to get one of my newer soldiers back on the right path after trying to work my above strategies first. I hope he comes around and becomes a better soldier with the stack of 4856's, both positive and negative, I have and that one day he in turn would be a better future NCO for it--only time will tell. He didn't want to accept responsibilities his rank and position holds, so he'll pay for not heeding my warnings nor those of his peers. Just sad it's going to come to it.
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SSG (Join to see)
As SGT Martin stated the "Golden Rule" is how many of us were raised. But I want you to think about the "Platinum Rule" which is treat others how they want to be treated. Unfortunately this does involve human interaction and assessing the motivations of those around you if you tailor your discipline to be a motivating factor instead of just a punishment you will get more from those who follow you.
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Smoke um.. I never feared losing money, or even having to work for the Army for free. When they told us we were gonna get smoked until we die, you better bet the entire Company made sure that did not happen.
This is coming from a 25 year old US Army VET MOS (31B) MP (Basic @ FT Leonard Wood MI.)
They need to drop all these silly new rules like *No cussing at the soldiers who are in basic training* Your sending us to war.... Don't sugar coat it, If we can take a bullet we can take a few fucks.
Don't limit training! The fact that we couldn't train outside because it was *To Cold* Was Bull. You think it's always warm in Afghanistan? You think the enemy is going to stay inside just because it's cold?
A soldier is a machine of war, regardless if it's Army, Navy, Air-force, or Marines. Start training us to be those machines, rather then half a machine.
MOS does play a large part in training, but EVERY soldier has a Basic Training phase right? That is where the soldier goes from Civilian, to Soldier and the people in charge of making the rules for it need to wake up and give us the respect of proper training.
Bring back the discipline that our forefathers had to endure, It sure as hell proved that it's successful in combat *WWII* I am not saying train them like it's those days again, but discipline us like it's those day again.
It would be barbaric to NOT prepare soldiers 100% for real combat.
This is coming from a 25 year old US Army VET MOS (31B) MP (Basic @ FT Leonard Wood MI.)
They need to drop all these silly new rules like *No cussing at the soldiers who are in basic training* Your sending us to war.... Don't sugar coat it, If we can take a bullet we can take a few fucks.
Don't limit training! The fact that we couldn't train outside because it was *To Cold* Was Bull. You think it's always warm in Afghanistan? You think the enemy is going to stay inside just because it's cold?
A soldier is a machine of war, regardless if it's Army, Navy, Air-force, or Marines. Start training us to be those machines, rather then half a machine.
MOS does play a large part in training, but EVERY soldier has a Basic Training phase right? That is where the soldier goes from Civilian, to Soldier and the people in charge of making the rules for it need to wake up and give us the respect of proper training.
Bring back the discipline that our forefathers had to endure, It sure as hell proved that it's successful in combat *WWII* I am not saying train them like it's those days again, but discipline us like it's those day again.
It would be barbaric to NOT prepare soldiers 100% for real combat.
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PFC John Eskaff
Did not think this one posted! So I made another one. Not sure if I can delete this one or not.
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1. Training. "Don't train until you get it right, train until you can't get it wrong." (I don't remember where I read this). When assuming responsibility, instill discipline through training immediately. Simple tactics, like Drill and Ceremony, are quick, established, and easy ways to make it known that you expect your people to be disciplined. Property Accountability. Be absolutely meticulous when assuming responsibility or transferring property. Demonstrate to your Soldiers you take things seriously. Set tough, measurable, and achievable standards for promotion, make them known, and stick to them.
2. Corrective Training. NCOs must be more creative in their enforcement of standards and use of corrective training. They must be willing to go the extra mile, and use corrective training that not only disciplines Soldiers, but trains them as well. As an NCO, and still, I make subordinates hand copy regulations (or portions thereof). The standards for accuracy and readability are high. They will get the idea, they learn the message, and the word spreads. Don't pull BS like making your subordinates show up 60 minutes early to a formation and then not show up yourself. That's hypocrisy.
3. Punishment. Use only as absolutely necessary. Overue of UCMJ is a clear sign of an unprepared leader. Too many Company Commanders are relying on UCMJ to establish discipline within the unit. All that does is bring down morale. If you going to use it, you must be willing to post it. Secrets breed contempt. Prevent the drain on morale by posting UCMJ and letting everyone discover the standards.
2. Corrective Training. NCOs must be more creative in their enforcement of standards and use of corrective training. They must be willing to go the extra mile, and use corrective training that not only disciplines Soldiers, but trains them as well. As an NCO, and still, I make subordinates hand copy regulations (or portions thereof). The standards for accuracy and readability are high. They will get the idea, they learn the message, and the word spreads. Don't pull BS like making your subordinates show up 60 minutes early to a formation and then not show up yourself. That's hypocrisy.
3. Punishment. Use only as absolutely necessary. Overue of UCMJ is a clear sign of an unprepared leader. Too many Company Commanders are relying on UCMJ to establish discipline within the unit. All that does is bring down morale. If you going to use it, you must be willing to post it. Secrets breed contempt. Prevent the drain on morale by posting UCMJ and letting everyone discover the standards.
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