NCOs
New Soldiers
I wholeheartedly agree with MSgt Koss here. The NCO's power isn't being TAKEN away, it's being GIVEN away. I see and deal with this in the AF on a daily basis. Our E-4's aren't bridging the gap between Junior Enlisted and NCO, our E-5's aren't stepping up and taking their frontline supervisor responsibilities, our E-6's are frustrated that the E-5's and below give them no respect, and by the time it gets to my E-7 level, and I try to correct it, I get eye rolls and threats of MEO action because I'm not giving them a warm-fuzzy hugs and kisses speech.
Then, when you try to gather the troops for the "Come to Jesus" meeting, YOU are the one they complain about because you're the only one actually acting within his/her responsibility IAW AFI 36-2618 (Enlisted Force Structure). This is why I keep a copy of the little brown, little blue, and now little green book in my cargo pocket. Just for such "reminders" of how it's SUPPOSED to work.
1SG: You are entirely right!
I was in AIT shortly before the DS were pulled out (2007). My DS there all predicted this.
Even at the schoolhouse, when someone screwed up or was disrespectful to an instructor, the threat of calling the DS put fear into most. When the DS was called and you saw that "Round Brown" come into the building, you knew someone was about to have a bad day.
Having gone through a recent reclass, where there were only "Platoon Sergeants." I saw the difference. We only saw the PSG at PT in the morning and maybe in passing during the afternoon after classes or if you sought them out.
I think the Army would do well to put DS' back into AIT environments.
I think it all comes down to standards. In many ways, standards have phased out over the past decade or so since the beginning of the GWOT. In fact, I believe that much of this out phasing if you will, is due to policy set forth by leadership at the strategic level. It began with lowering the bar, as has been traditional in the time of war. Here, we let anyone in willing to serve. Next, over the years, I've heard many leaders state that for those who are willing to serve in their country's time of need (since 9/11) a demonstrated level of respect is owed. This ideal somehow translated into more privileges and fewer hardships during IET and in the first few years of service.
Next, you have a generation that was raised where everyone get's a trophy. My son's last place baseball team one year handed out trophies to the kids, no kidding. It boosted their spirits, but taught them nothing about the real world.
Combine these ideals and occurrences with our current media-crazed global visibility, our increased political correctness due to advancing ideals of the 'profession of arms' and the decrease in time leaders actually have to spend with subordinates due to the multitude of required 'on-line' training and 75 page counseling packets (before a single session has been conducted) and you get the new generation of entitlement and self-righteous, over-protected, and over-privileged Soldiers. Sorry about the rant.
I like to kick it old school because respect is earned so it can be given.
if the new Soldiers went from Basic to AIT and were already accustomed to getting dropped or smoked then they would have no idea what to consider hazing... if they had to work hard in AIT to stand out to the DS (who only sees a bunch of privates, all equal, no one different or special) then they would come to the units more prepared to work hard to stand out...
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if the NCO would lock the Soldiers up and identify clear lines, then the Soldiers wouldn't push the limits. If you play around with your Soldiers- don't get upset when they start crossing lines with you... your bad.
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if the Leadership would stop pushing this "family" work environment and enforce a business mentality then maybe the junior leaders won't have such an issue of telling their little "brothers" to do stuff.... which means the junior leaders need to make clear lines for the Soldiers which the Soldiers are used to because thats how they were brought up by the DSs.
make sense?
Chief, I agree to an extent as well. I have only been around eight years and I agree- the issue does lie within the leaders at ALL levels, but I think this is kind of a long the lines of
"i got spanked as a child and turned out just fine"
This is a business. We have morals, values, ethics and foster specific work enviornments. This is not the time for "today it's my eye, now my arm, now my back, oh and my ankle... oh your treating me unfairly. you hazed me when I had to do push ups for being late. You gave me a counseling for being late three times but I'm telling that you picking on me..." THIS is what I listen to day in and day out. Its all about the emotions and feelings and treating Soldiers like.... children. The little I have grown in the ranks (from fuzzy to staff) I had to grow thick skin. I got scuffed up; I did the training, got back up and kept moving- making a mental note not to make the same mistake. You can't just tell a Soldier to have thick skin. Most dont even know what that means...
I want all my Soldiers and NCOs to excel, but I dig in their behinds when they are wrong.... the same way I learned and that is because I care.
SPC Nguyen,
I think that there has been a culture change in the military. I will only speak on the Army since it is the only branch of service in which I have expanded knowledge. Not only has there been a change in the Armed services culture but there has been a change in the culture of the country as a whole. Because of this culture shift we are seeing Soldiers entering the military feeling as though they are owed something. The values that were instilled in the generations before are not the same as the values instilled in today's generation. I've been in the Army for some time now and there have always been people who should have never joined the military. The difference between now and then were the leaders and their ability to motivate, teach coach and mentor younger Soldiers to change their attitudes and be better Soldiers.
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