Is there a line between corrective training & bad leadership?

Seeing this picture clearly shows the leader who imposed this lesson, while somewhat original, went a bit too far.

In response to your question, of course there is a difference. I believe if the corrective training (lesson) you are trying to get a soldier or sailor to learn from should fit the issue. In the photos, this was a pure and simple use of public shaming. If this was at a field command, I would remind the leader this is not boot camp. I believe as a peer, it is not just your responsibility, but your duty to address the issue.

TEACH, do not humiliate subordinates. If it is in public (other military members in the area), address the issue immediately, then a one on one (or more as necessary) would be in order, in my opinion. Nothing is ever truly gained but shaming, whereas everything is gained by training!

Lead them the way you wanted led, or want to be led!!
No need to demean nor humiliate!!
The corrective training must fit the deficiency though!!

Magic line no but there certainly is a difference between corrective training and punishment. This always comes down to the individual circumstances. Some of the corrective training I did with one Soldier would be perfect and have great results. If I tried it with another Soldier it would have been completely inappropriate. A large part of good Leadership is adjusting your actions to meet the situation and Soldiers involved. Let your experience be your guide and never act in anger but only with the Soldier's best interest.

Corrective Training is never embarrassing. If you do it because you care about the soldiers and their career then that makes a difference. If you do it to be mean it will not work.

There's corrective training and then there's going too far. Although this pic seems to be back before the Army re-regulated their line between corrective training and abuse of soldiers, I feel like this still goes way beyond what anyone should've done to smoke him in that situation.

Here's some lower enlisted quasi-corrective training. I had just arrived at my new duty station and was assigned to a room with two other soldiers. We were E-4 (me), E-3, and E-2. Got a long just fine. The other two had been roommates for a while and were friends already. There was a small refrigerator in the room which I did not use. After about a week of being told the refrigerator needed defrosting after inspection each morning I finally went to the SGT and said that I was unwilling to clean the refrigerator because I didn't use it and that it had needed to be defrosted and cleaned before I arrived. But I also didn't want us to get written up because of it. She suggest that I simply unplug the refrigerator. I just really did not want to do that . . . to be so manipulative, but I did.
I did parts in the motor pool so worked very long hours especially getting everything straightened out and up to standard. When I returned that evening my roommates had finished mopping up the water, and were almost finished cleaning the refrigerator. I was sure they would have figured out what had happened, But they were puzzled and had no idea. I never said a word about it. I think the SGT probably plugged it back in shortly before they returned when she checked the room and saw the deed had been done. It was a training moment for all of us - me, a way to resolve the dilemma, and my roommates a way to motivate them to defrost and clean their refrigerator.

What NCOs fail to learn is there is corrective training and corrective action. When we all learn the difference that will stop hazing and embarrassing soldiers. I honestly see nothing funny about that photo and think like a NCO as a private what would you do. I'd tell tell that SSG/SFC or whoever tried to embarrass me to kiss my ass now I'm hit with disrespect of a NCO. Would you do it as a leader if not don't make your soldiers do it. Toooooo easy right.

Always give your Soldiers a chance to correct themselves, if the situation is not severe, do a duffle bag drill, Cavalry, HooaH!, then from there you may want to document it and then UCMJ, depends on the Soldier response. We have to take care of our Soldiers and lead them in the right direction.

That picture or the NCO did bad decision on that a soldier correct training.
As a former NCO u have make sure the training is not reflected back on you as this NCO did on the soldier it reflects on his sgt.

In leadership--whether you are training, watching, leading, coaching, ... whatever--there is only one rule you must follow: The Golden Rule, "Treat others the way you would want to be treated."

Is humiliation your favorite emotion? Is anger another? Do you prefer being called stupid, an idiot, or an imbecile? I imagine you get VERY receptive to corrective training when it includes some of these.

In basic training, your leaders have two jobs: 1) Indoctrinate you into a disciplined, military mindset; and 2) Prepare you to work as a team and to be victorious and survive in combat. Sometimes the indoctrination and discipline portion requires leadership deviation. Habits (like character) can be hard to change. Listening to commands, attention to detail, preparedness--all are necessary components for unit and individual victory and survival. Forget your ID, your dog tags, your ammo, or which side the safety is on...all can have devastating effects depending on the situation. Push-ups, laps, and other training-related consequences will better serve the leader and the trainee in the long run...all humiliation teaches is how to humiliate.

Leaders lead...there is no room for immature, ill-advised, and directed emotional trauma. The more you treat a person like a responsible adult, the more they are likely to act like one...and pay it forward.