Posted on Oct 14, 2016
Is humor missing and not appreciated in the profession of arms?
13.3K
48
29
13
13
0
Colonel Eric Zimmerman points out that we used to have humor in doctrine. The leadership doctrine of the U.S. Army actually addressed the appropriate use of humor in leadership situations. I have always found that using humor brings things down a notch when the proverbial fecal matter hits the spinning blades. In an age where everyone seems offended, is this even more of a problem?
https://www.ausa.org/articles/seriously-let%E2%80%99s-inject-humor-leadership
https://www.ausa.org/articles/seriously-let%E2%80%99s-inject-humor-leadership
Humor
Professionalism
Stress
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 11
I work in government and I have had similar observations Sir. I think it is a problem. Sometimes humor is needed to break tension and ease frustration. It's difficult for those of us who have served or worked at a high stress jobs such as law enforcement, EMS, and ER. I wished many a times recently that I had the grace and poise of our own 1LT Sandy Annala, but it is something I'm personally working on as I try to advance into leadership. I have found as others have commented here that after a period of getting to know folks and having a drink off-hours has helped, because many people have a different persona outside of duty hours.
For what it's worth, don't change COL (Join to see), because you are one of the cool people on here in my opinion, which was why I was bugging you to come to a meetup when you were in DC. lol
For what it's worth, don't change COL (Join to see), because you are one of the cool people on here in my opinion, which was why I was bugging you to come to a meetup when you were in DC. lol
(4)
(0)
Col Dona Marie Iversen
Sadly words and actions in 'after hour' environments tend to follow (haunt) you during business hours. Others seem to forget "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas". In my civilian leadership positions, many 'beg' me to join as I'm perceived as the 'cool' leader. I attend after hour events but only for a little while, want others to be able to relax when I'm not around or I do not want to witness something I should not see and then have to take action due to the @#$% PC crowd. It's a balance.
Damn, the fun we use to have on TDYs, Joint Clubs, O clubs would NEVER be accepted today. Oh, the memories! LOL!
Damn, the fun we use to have on TDYs, Joint Clubs, O clubs would NEVER be accepted today. Oh, the memories! LOL!
(2)
(0)
SMSgt Lawrence McCarter
Col Dona Marie Iversen - True, a lot of things have changed and many of the clubs aren't even close to what they used to be.
(0)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
PV2 (Join to see), I think today, especially in our PC world, humor has been drowned. Humor makes fun of a situation. About the only kind that isn't truly frowned upon is self-deprecating humor. Even then...if it makes someone uncomfortable...you're screwed. I think everyone defaults to a serious nature, which is necessary most of the time. I'm just of the opinion that life without a laugh is miserable.
(0)
(0)
A little humor can help relieve a little stress in a shitty situation. You have to consider all options sometimes to complete a task, even if it is humor! A laugh or smile never hurt anyone!
(4)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
MSgt (Join to see), agreed. Some of my favorite shots of combat are of guys laughing or making jokes while getting shot at. Finding the humor in a life and death situation. Unless you've been there, it's almost unfathomable and you'd think that those guys have lost their minds, but you get there at some point. I was watching a documentary on a company of Marines that were pinned down and they had helmet cams on and they were laughing, smiling and joking around while bullets hit around them.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
Humor if in good taste is VERY therapeutic ! Know to ease tensions and decrease stress. Laughter is the best medicine. Especially if one can laugh at themselves
(3)
(0)
SGT David Baker
Humor in very very horribly bad taste is also therapeutic.
Some of my best de-stressing memories involve sitting around with my comrades calling each other the sorts of names and ascribing to one another the sorts of characteristics that would cause generations-long feuds in Appalachia, and mass casualties by terminal butthurt on college campi.
Some of my best de-stressing memories involve sitting around with my comrades calling each other the sorts of names and ascribing to one another the sorts of characteristics that would cause generations-long feuds in Appalachia, and mass casualties by terminal butthurt on college campi.
(0)
(0)
Col Dona Marie Iversen
SGT David Baker - Agree if you know your audience. We can be crude , rude and inappropriate with a select few...
(1)
(0)
3
3
0
I can't speak for those currently serving, but it seems that those in harm's way have long relied on humor, albeit gallows humor, to see them through the turmoil of emotions that assaulted them as surely as blades, bombs, and bullets. I've read of it in correspondence and diaries, especially written during the American Civil War. I heard it in hootches in Vietnam. I can't imagine how anyone could survive war without it.
(3)
(0)
CPT Jack Durish
COL (Join to see) - That's a different question. You're talking about military leaders on display. They're affecting behavior expected of them. Join them for drinks after class and see how it goes.
(1)
(0)
1SG Al Brown
Concur with CPT Durish. A couple of my former Commanders (and now old friends) are civilian instructors at Carlyle Barracks. You would know them. We served together in Somalia and Afghanistan. I don't remember either cracking a smile the first year I knew them, and I was face to face everyday. Humor comes after long term trust for both of these cats, but it's only there for the few.
(1)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
1SG Al Brown - Yeah...see, I have a problem with that. Humor is a part of natural interaction and suppressing it to put on a mask to be who you are supposed to be is ingenuous. Be who you are. Now...if you are a fence post, be a fence post. Trying to be humorous will be a disaster anyhow. But if you are naturally prone to use humor, like GEN Milley is in public situations, embrace it and use it as a tool to get your message across.
(0)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
CPT Jack Durish - See my comment below, but we aren't on display. This is a small group of 12 COL's sitting around and talking. No public display going on but the interaction between the 12 of us. I am the most gregarious of us with 2 others being of good humor. Everyone else ranges from serious to easily offended.
(0)
(0)
2
2
0
In my opinion, humor is not missing in the profession of arms, but to your 2nd question, yes humor is a problem in an age where everyone is offended.
Humor can be used to boost morale or even build camaraderie. But if you are constantly walking on eggshells worried you might offend someone, you are actually getting the opposite result of humor. Morale drops because everyone is overly serious and camaraderie splits because people aren't opening up to each other.
If I can share a joke with you and both of us laugh, we have just become closer simply from the shared experience. Even if you and I never talk again, you'll remember me with fond memories simply because I made you laugh.
Laughter also has the ability to boost our own confidence. We could be on a mission in a no win situation. Our leader knows it, the troops are feeling it. The leader tells us a joke. We get a good laugh. The troops feel more relaxed and confident. The troops turn a no-win situation into a mission accomplished.
I understand that we live in a society where everyone is becoming sensitive over every little thing. But we are in a profession where we can be called upon to take a life and we have to make peace with that. I'd rather be in a foxhole with a guy who can make me smile when the going gets tough than a guy who reports me for a choice of language.
Humor can be used to boost morale or even build camaraderie. But if you are constantly walking on eggshells worried you might offend someone, you are actually getting the opposite result of humor. Morale drops because everyone is overly serious and camaraderie splits because people aren't opening up to each other.
If I can share a joke with you and both of us laugh, we have just become closer simply from the shared experience. Even if you and I never talk again, you'll remember me with fond memories simply because I made you laugh.
Laughter also has the ability to boost our own confidence. We could be on a mission in a no win situation. Our leader knows it, the troops are feeling it. The leader tells us a joke. We get a good laugh. The troops feel more relaxed and confident. The troops turn a no-win situation into a mission accomplished.
I understand that we live in a society where everyone is becoming sensitive over every little thing. But we are in a profession where we can be called upon to take a life and we have to make peace with that. I'd rather be in a foxhole with a guy who can make me smile when the going gets tough than a guy who reports me for a choice of language.
(2)
(0)
1
1
0
I've been out since 1987 but it's still there Sir, go look at the new "10 Layout" video from the Sabulski AAS at Ft. Campbell and listen to the background music.....lol. If you don't at least crack a smirk at that, something is wrong with your sense of humor. That video went out across FB in the 101st Airborne feed about 2 days ago to lots of folks, I still snicker about it when it comes to mind. Also, my view of 11 Series still serving all the way up to SFC is they have a robust sense of humor as they did in 1986. Because of ridiculous and over broad interpretations of SHARP and EO they are sometimes careful of where they express it BUT it is definitely still there. That's not to say they do not support SHARP and EO only that sometimes joking conversations about wives or girlfriends are overheard and misinterpreted.
(1)
(0)
SPC Erich Guenther
When I was in, I remember the 1SG and CO both being sarcasticly funny sometimes. Remember the CO on a FTX running off to chase the gut truck away but sneaking a huge order of burritos for himself and his driver (we almost got that on film but it did not turn out). Ahh the good, ole days.
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
I believe that we have begun to loose humor in the vein effort to not offend anyone in our current overly sensitive environment.
(1)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
MSG Wade Huffman, I've seen it first-hand that's for sure. That being said, I have a problem with the thing in your brain that tells you when you shouldn't say something...mine's broken.
(1)
(0)
MSG Wade Huffman
COL (Join to see) - Mine has been inoperative for a long time now. Guess it's a good thing I'm retired! LOL!
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
The so called liberals, have puhed political correctness down our throats and our senior leaders are to busy kissing their asses, to stop it.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Just be sure it is currently considered PC and no one is offended when you speak.
(0)
(0)
COL (Join to see)
Good natured humor shouldn't have to be checked at the door. I think we all know what's acceptable now days. I'm not going to bring a joke book from 1965 to work.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google