How do you keep your troops motivated?

The lashings will continue until morale improves.

There was a SGT at my first duty station in Korea. Every junior enlisted person would have died with/for him because he motivated us doing something so simple. His secret....telling us the truth about how he felt about certain tasking's. Example, "hey guys, I think this is bullshit too, but we need to clean these rooms that the other people should have, or we're just going to be here all night. I know no one wants to do it, but I'm here sweeping and mopping right beside you." No Army "Hooah" stuff said, no commands being thrown at people who were already tired and beaten, simple words. Everyone that was around instantly felt that they had a reason to work, because they saw one of their leaders grinding it out with them when all the other leaders went to their rooms, or smoke area. He always told us the truth, always showed us what to do, explained why when he had the chance, when he didn't have time things still got done, because everyone knew he would tell us later the importance. 

Taking care of the soldier is the best way to get him to work for you.

When I became a team leader i was a SPC, (SrA Equivilent). I didnt make more money than my soldiers, so buying them lunch when they worked hard wasn't going to happen.
But we did what we could. but i did what i could. If we got a lot done i would give them an extended lunch. and once or twice we got caught at the bowling alley doing "team building exercises".  They knew that i would work for them as hard as they worked for me. I never let my soldiers have issues that are not being immediately addressed. And as much as Senior Leaders hate to hear i am not adverse to jumping part of the COC/NCO Support Channel to ensure my soldier is being taken care of.
When we deployed they busted their buts for me. But i took care of them, i wouldn't let anyone touch them besides me. Being that two of my soldiers where married and i wasn't i would make sure that the and both called their wives at least once a day (or at least give them the opportunity to do so). 


(I don't do jump the COC/NCO support Channel arbitrarily, i give each NCO/Officer enough time and a lot of annoying phone calls or questions  prior to going to the next person. I also give them a notification of my intentions to move to the next person in the COC/
NCO support channel prior to moving up the ladder.)

To keep morale up in my unit I made sure to have them doing there jobs.  To many Commanders what to get the soldiers to the range thinking making things go "Bang" is cool and will build moral.  What I have found that in a volunteer Army soldiers want to do there job.  If your in the National Guard and your a unit commander and your unit does supply than you need to get your people doing there jobs.  Get the waterdogs out there with there ROWPU's, get the fuel guys out there working a refueling point, get maintenance guys under the trucks, and working the maintenance shops.  They joined to do that job and for a lot of soldiers doing anything other than that job only seems like a waste of time. 

Know the Soldier's passion and encourage and guide the individual to their full potential by enlarging their vision. Encourage them to develop a plan of action. Provide historical principles on how hardship, endurance and perseverance pushes the individual through obstacles. The old saying that if you throw a rock at every dog that barks at you, you will never reach your full potential.