Posted on Feb 6, 2019
Does it get any easier to discipline a Soldier? As much as I don’t like him I don’t want to take his rank, but why?
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I have a Soldier that has put me in the position where we will be taking his rank from him. He lacks motivation, discipline, etc. He’s even been AWOL the last two Drills. I want to fix his problems, and realize that I can’t do it for him. I don’t have any options left but to take rank and re-establish the standard for my platoon. I don’t even like him personally, so why do I find myself not wanting to do this part of my job?
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Leadership
Leadership
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 13
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Good advice given. I'll add that a problem child is dealt with by the Command, not lowercase command. You may wind up as the tip of the spear, but you want to make sure upline has your six. Consequences are actually selected by the SM through their actions. Happens all the time and this stuff should be looked at as a business decision. And most importantly, you don't go into martyr mode over it. Second most important, get it done quickly so everyone can move on.
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Nobody wants to be the bad guy. Especially the bad guy that ends up taking rank. It's not a matter of like or dislike, it's about what needs to be done. If you feel rank reduction needs to happen, then submit your recommendation to the Commander and let them make that final call. And, I'm guessing the NCO's have tried everything to help turn this Soldier around?
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1LT (Join to see)
It's more a requirement from higher now. The BC is taking a hardline on AWOLs in the battalion and as an NCO, the Soldier knows the standard. This is new for him. Usually he is at least showing up and being accountable as far as I can see. As a squad leader he reports directly to my PSG and we have done everything we can aside from going to his house and picking him up. Maybe it's just that it is my first time to have to deal with a situation like this, but I don't like it. The way the Guard is, a Soldier can only miss nine MUTAs and can be processed out for AWOL, so the eight that he has already missed have put in a very tight spot. If he goes AWOL next month the justification is there to discharge him. I don't want to seem like I don't care about his situation, but at the same time he has abandoned his Soldiers and I also have to think about them and the rest of the platoon.
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MSG (Join to see)
1LT (Join to see) - Oh? This is an NCO doing this? Sounds like he has given up. Well, as long as everything is documented and all attempts at redemption have been tried and failed, then as much as I hate to say it, put their feet to the fire. As the Platoon Leader, I'd recommend discussing with your PSG and maybe remove this NCO from Squad Leader and sit them in a corner doing the most menial tasks possible. And once they hit that magic #9 MUTA missed, submit that chapter separation rikky tik.
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1LT (Join to see)
Sadly I believe that is what will happen. I just don't understand why I feel like I am doing something bad. I'm doing my job.The admin stuff is done and handled, but just just feel bad about it. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Due to y prior service in the BN admin realm, I know what's coming, and I don't want it to happen, but it's my job to do it.
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Everyone will tell you to take the rank, that you are in the right.
They're not wrong. You're completely in the right.
Leadership is rarely about being right.
I would refer you to the recent RAND study that showed that leaders who were fast trackers had lower rates of retention and higher rates of subordinate misconduct and discharge. I interpret this as more experienced leaders have more tools in their toolbox.
Does it get easier to discipline? No, not really. Not unless you become disconnected from your Soldiers. As Sun Tzu said, "Regard your Soldiers as your children and they will follow you into the deepest valley. Look upon them as your own beloved sons and they will stand by you even unto death".
Discipline is a reactive situation. Caring is proactive. Obviously, you can't save everyone from themselves, which is why it hurts.
They're not wrong. You're completely in the right.
Leadership is rarely about being right.
I would refer you to the recent RAND study that showed that leaders who were fast trackers had lower rates of retention and higher rates of subordinate misconduct and discharge. I interpret this as more experienced leaders have more tools in their toolbox.
Does it get easier to discipline? No, not really. Not unless you become disconnected from your Soldiers. As Sun Tzu said, "Regard your Soldiers as your children and they will follow you into the deepest valley. Look upon them as your own beloved sons and they will stand by you even unto death".
Discipline is a reactive situation. Caring is proactive. Obviously, you can't save everyone from themselves, which is why it hurts.
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