Do you still see any "old school discipline" being used?

CPO Joseph Grant — Sat, 16 May 2015 00:16:12 -0400

I remember as a NUB on my first submarine that "informal counseling sessions" often conducted behind the sail, in the fan room or other private space often quickly corrected problems without destroying a career. Those days are long gone in the Navy. Any other branch still have "hands on" leadership?

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 16 at 2015 12:18 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 16 May 2015 00:18:55 -0400

I seriously doubt that any branch of the Armed Forces could get away with anything like that anymore.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 16 at 2015 12:18 AM

SPC Charles Brown — Sat, 16 May 2015 00:18:43 -0400

Sadly no. I fear those days are long since passed. That was true leadership.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made May 16 at 2015 12:26 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sat, 16 May 2015 00:26:47 -0400

I have seen some ways in the Army and then I have seen some "ways" behind closed doors which could amount to a "smoke session" while a Soldier is giving order on which physical training exercise to perform while another NCO is giving him a lecture. Who wants to get lectured and get PT'd at the same time?

Response by PO1 John Miller made May 16 at 2015 1:59 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 16 May 2015 01:59:16 -0400

In my 20 years I had never actually seen fan room counseling. I had heard all of the stories of course, but never witnessed or received it myself.

The one time that may have been fan room counseling was, we were having a berthing Wrestlemania. BM3 and SN Schmuckatelli were going at it. BM3 had him in a headlock and started grinding his face into the non-skid strips at the bottom of the ladderwell. SN Schmuckatelli was a bit of a smart ass and disrespectful so I felt he deserved it. When he went to medical to get his cuts and bruises treated, our story was "he fell."

BM3 got 5 days restriction (no money or rank lost) and missed out on our next port call.

However, in this day and age fan room counseling is a one-way ticket home with an OTH discharge.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jun 20 at 2015 1:15 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 13:15:39 -0400

Unfortunately, some people never get it, and it takes a big hammer to get their attention. My hands were tied with one of my troops that was perpetually late and a hygiene problem. My attempts to NJP him were resisted by my Superiors. We eventually FAP'd him off to [get this!] the MWR Sailing Facility < a cush job that rightly ought to be a place where you send your GOOD people to reward them for their efforts. You check out boats and don't even have to wear your uniform! Needless to say, he showed up late and didn't do what he was supposed to and THEY sent him to CCU!!! @@ After CCU he had a different attitude. By then, he was no longer in our unit, but he actually came back to see me and apologized. Wow!

Response by SSgt Rachel Shelley (Cook) made Jun 20 at 2015 9:18 PM

SSgt Rachel Shelley (Cook) — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 21:18:36 -0400

My grandfather was an old jar head from the 1940's and 50's. He recounted a few "hands-on" situations that he conducted personally. I suppose that explains why he made such a good Sgt of Homicide in the Oakland Police department in the 1960s. The Hells Angels actually mentioned him in their book as being one of the Oakland cops they had respect for. In my line of work in the Air Force, there wasn't so much hands-on counseling sessions. However, I do remember watching a CMSgt chuck a young boom operators brand new iPhone out the cargo door and watching it shatter into smithereens on the flight line. The kid was texting when he should have been working. We all thought it was a good learning lesson. ;)

Response by SGT Dylan Epp made Jun 21 at 2015 2:58 PM

SGT Dylan Epp — Sun, 21 Jun 2015 14:58:07 -0400

No way unless the whole chain of command knows. I know a fellow NCO who got counseled for hazing because he shouted to loudly at a private while making him do more than 25 pushups, after the private lost a sensitive piece of equipment.

Response by PO3 Aaron Hassay made Jan 14 at 2021 9:45 PM

PO3 Aaron Hassay — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 21:45:23 -0500

Fan Room Counseling! Very normal I suppose on the FFG I was on. I mean my BMCM got at me when I was not feeling well at sea.