Posted on Mar 4, 2015
TSgt Joshua Copeland
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I have seen this in a few threads where Military Leaders are selectively enforcing reg based on if they agree with them or not.

RP, what are your thoughts as a group?
Posted in these groups: Rules and regulations RegulationOfficers logo OfficersImages 20 NCOs
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Responses: 33
CPT Andrew Reed
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Your question is worded in absolutes. Can they choose which regulations to enforce? Yes, they can and they do. Why are they able to do this? I believe that authority and responsibility is delegated down the chain because trust exists between leaders and subordinates. Brigade commanders trust that their battalion commanders will do what is right.

But what is right? Is it what's best for the Soldier? The unit? The Army? The nation? Sometimes these priorities compete. It's not always a black and white decision.

Coming back to your question, I think you're really asking weather or not they 'should' selectively enforce regulations. The Army is an organization with many, many rules. Each level of command, all the way down to that brand new team leader, add to these rules. Of course we can't enforce everything all the time. Take a look at AR 350-1, and I doubt you will find many units that are in 100% compliance. We have to prioritize, which is another way of saying ignore some things so we can focus on the important things. The recent SSI document on lying called this ethical fading.

Is this the right way of doing business? I'm struggling to answer the question myself.

COL Jason Smallfield, PMP, CFM, CM Would love to hear your take on this sir.
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Maj Force Support
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9 y
I see an IG complaint in your future...
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LCDR Michael Pumilia
LCDR Michael Pumilia
>1 y
The Regs are there for the good of the military. They inform the right way of doing things. They are also there to protect us from error, failure, and complacency, over zealous leaders, and under performing personnel. An old problem which still shows up is, "Supervisors who won't tell you how to do it right, But they wlll tell you when you're WRONG" The regs were crafted over success and failures in everyday situations. They are to teach the right way and protect against the wrong way.
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SFC Intelligence Analyst   Atl
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Do they get to? No. Do they? For the most part, yes.

I would be lying if I said I enforced every regulation and/or policy to the letter. First of all, I don't KNOW every single regulation/policy. That aside, I know that there have been times in the past where certain small things were overlooked.

What I must do to be better, and what we all must do really, is to understand that compassion for others, and the potential for compromise to our integrity are not exclusively tied together. We can have compassion for others while still maintain our integrity and enforcing the standards.
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SGT Jim Z.
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They should enforce them all.
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SPC Chelsea Fernandez
SPC Chelsea Fernandez
10 y
All regs should be enforced but you cant go around and make up your won regs
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SGT Jim Z.
SGT Jim Z.
10 y
I agree you cannot make up your own but remember you can add to but not take away from regulations.
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Capt Jeff S.
Capt Jeff S.
9 y
Enforce them all and without partiality...
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SGT Squad Leader
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SGT Jim Z.
On the smoking thing, it is now a regulation where 21+ can smoke so id you have a 19 yr old who is grandfathered in cause he was 18 before the law past you gonna check ID’s and say no one under the age of 21 can smoke? Or you gonna counsel all of them?
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