Is the Army unintentionally creating a culture of self interest over teamwork?

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 09:22:06 -0500

The Army does preach teamwork, being there for a battle buddy, etc.

Down range this is usually the case. In garrison, it's not. If a Soldier has career intentions he must build a resume for future boards or gain promotion points to see the next ranks. While this system certainly pushes a Soldier to accomplish more it also seems to isolate their focus on themselves. I see it all the time. Joes left to their own devices because their NCO is busy doing ACCP or resident courses that aren't even necessary. Why? Promotion points or resume building for senior boards.

It seems like Soldiers are more willing to step on a few people on their way to the top. There's not enough teamwork an mentoring. And too much me-first attitude in the ranks.

Do you think this is an issue? Is there anything that should be done to rectify it? Can it be fixed or is the Army just too big and necessitate this type of incentive based system?

Response by SFC Walter Mack made Dec 25 at 2014 10:04 PM

SFC Walter Mack — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 22:04:05 -0500

I'd say it is an issue organizationally. We are expected to do a large amount of annual online training and meet other asinine suspenses that prevent many NCOs from doing their jobs, and sometimes makes it difficult for senior NCOs to ensure their subordinate NCOs are doing the right thing. Having worked in an S-3, I can't count how many times I worked a troop to task list over and over trying to find one NCO to complete a tasking, often just asking division if an E-4 could fill the spot. How about an E-3? I have an E-3..., I think. It's a bit worse in FORSCOM than in many other units in this respect. The hospital I work at now allows me more autonomy, but I still manage additional duties that are expected at my level. Even here, we recently switched to DTMS to manage training. Keep in mind we had another program called APEQS that did a wonderful job of tracking our myriad training requirements. MEDCOM has over 500 mandatory training requirements, which are not well delineated. This makes it impossible to track all of them for over 400 Soldiers. Now we're just back to quarterly training requirements, which is what we did before computers. Imagine that.

That said, those who would step on others to get ahead were here before the current culture of overtasking and excessive online training. As a young private, I had many NCOs that worked harder to prevent me from getting an opportunity than they ever worked to get the opportunity themselves. Why? I suspect jealousy, because I wasn't too lazy to get off my ass and jump for that not so low hanging fruit. Who really knows. Maybe I'm just a jerk & piss off those around me. I'm good with it.

Remember, nobody cares more about your career than you do, which works two ways. First, if you have crap leadership, but seek opportunity wherever you go, you'll find success. Be awesome, and don't let others tell you otherwise. Remember that when you deal with young Soldiers. Ensure they get the opportunities they work for, and ensure they actually want to work for it. Don't hand it to them because it seems well timed or they haven't gotten to yet. If a Soldier doesn't want it, they just don't want it. Second, if you are a great leader, and seek out each opportunity for your Soldiers in accordance with their desire and ability, yet they don't have the motivation and drive to succeed, then you are hurting the Army by forcing them into a role they don't want and haven't earned. If they don't want to Soldier, thank them for their time and send them on to the next life challenge outside of the military. Trust me, they'll be ok.

I hope this wasn't too long. If you made it this far, thanks.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Dec 25 at 2014 10:10 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Thu, 25 Dec 2014 22:10:29 -0500

I will say that there is a lot of rumblings in the Air Force over this. Starting this September, members will compete with their peers (same rank) within the unit regardless of AFSC. The fear is that this will cause a cutthroat environment where NCOs will step over/on each other without regard to the unit's mission to jockey for position to get the highest rating on their EPR and the substantial promotion points that go with it.