The reason for the poor state of morale?

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 21:19:21 -0500

http://www.businessinsider.com/carl-forsling-reason-for-the-poor-state-of-military-morale-2014-12

Here's The Real Reason For US Military's Declining Morale

Many of the military's rank-and-file believe that loyalty currently only travels up — not down.

Response by TSgt Jackie Jones made Dec 29 at 2014 10:06 PM

TSgt Jackie Jones — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:06:46 -0500

Wow. What a hard hitting, eye opening article. I saw this starting in 2009 before I chose to leave... It is not looking good for the home team.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 10:11 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:11:25 -0500

They (Admin) are ReCarterizing (Cauterizing)

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Dec 29 at 2014 10:22 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:22:40 -0500

We all recognize that morale is the key to outstanding units. If the troops don't give a hoot, the unit will suck. Period.

If overall, the morale is in the crapper (which I don't think it is-overall), the entire military will suck, which it does not.

However, we need to be vigilant. I need to KNOW that my back is had, not being stabbed.

Troops who believe in their leadership will do amazing things.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 10:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:22:50 -0500

I agree with the morale problem, but I do not think this is a very good article. Not even a single interview. Really? The author couldn't talk to any actual military or gather any actual facts? Has the author heard of RP?

I think he was closer to correct when he said, "Service members complain about deployments, but they also complain when they don’t deploy." Yes. Not because we all want to deploy and be away from our families. It's because we want to do something that matters. Matters to America, not just our senior leaders. It's because once you have had a taste of something real, it is hard to go back to the diet coke/tofu world of paper mache training versus a fictional enemy. I am prepping for my fourth "deployment" to lovely "Atropia" to save them from the evil "Arianans." Senior leadership is spun up because it's a big validation event for them (read OER bullet), but for us junior officers and enlisted Soldiers, it's really a dog and pony show - especially for those of us who have been through it over, and over, and over... The disconnect is because while it matters to them, they are failing to help it matter to us.

I'm sure lots of people have their own individual reasons for saying that they don't feel it any more, but think about it: didn't you have that same kind of issue 2-3 years ago too? But you set it aside, right? You set it aside because you felt you were part of a bigger purpose. But now that the bigger purpose is gone (and they keep coming up with BS ankle biters and "gotchas"), it's more of a big deal. My kids never liked me disappearing for drill weekend, but now that I am going to reread the same OPORD for the 9th time in 3 months, I'm not so thrilled about it either (plus my unit is no longer picking up the cost of my hotel...gotcha!).

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2014 10:21 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:21:19 -0500

sharp, briefings, briefings and more briefings, suicide prevention briefings. phuk phuk games over expermental mre's being lost

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Dec 29 at 2014 10:26 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 22:26:31 -0500

A well written article.

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Feb 3 at 2015 3:39 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Tue, 03 Feb 2015 15:39:33 -0500

"Life in the military has a lot of rewards, but also a lot of sacrifices and hardship. What has made soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines withstand those hardships throughout history is a sense of belonging and the knowledge that someone has their backs.

The source of the military’s discontent doesn’t lie in money. It's in the fact that many in the military believe that loyalty currently only travels up, not down."

Can't emphasis this enough. It's not about what they are doing in terms of a big picture (deployment, budget cuts, etc), it's what they are doing to support the individual service member (hostile work environment, toxic leaders). We might mumble and moan about the drop in BAH percentage or not matching inflation rates, but what really affects morale is the day to day operations. I've had multiple experiences where my command, IG, and EO do not care about the regulations or upholding the Army values. So if leadership doesn't care about what is legally and morally right it's easy to see how your average Joe gets fucked over.

I can't remember the last time anyone in my unit asked me about my personal life. It's lonely to have no purpose in my unit outside the work I do.

Response by TSgt Aaron D. made May 27 at 2015 10:16 PM

TSgt Aaron D. — Wed, 27 May 2015 22:16:46 -0400

I started to read the article but didn't have time to finish it. I believe that the lack of training and camaraderie plays a huge part in the declining morale of the forces. Also, I would believe that most of our younger generation would feel nervous to talk to anyone about anything. When I first came in, I could virtually introduce any subject while on the job; small talk or personal life issues. Now a days you keep personal stuff personal and small talk to a minimum. Heaven forbid you say heaven forbid in conversation and then get reprimanded. This is the Air Force culture at least. Also, the promotion scheming has been changing quite a bit for some time and is now just a big competition of favoritism. All of these things will hurt morale. Lets also not forget that I changed jobs in 2009 and I have yet to see any formal training for my current job. The Air Force culture is 100% shut up, do your work, go home, get paid, come back tomorrow mentality. That's my view on the subject however. It may seem bitter, but it is also truly how I feel. This is one of the biggest reason I left Active Duty after a rather successful eight and a half years.