Why do officers talk about building the units morale but they don't put in measures or provide functions to build this morale?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 01:28:09 -0500

Though I only have 2 years of service I have noticed a trend when it comes to commanders with the grade between 0-3 to 0-6. According to multiple people I have talked to I have been stationed at 2 horrible places (fort Irwin, Korea). I know both of these places are less than ideal to be at because of the isolation factor and it reflects by the way people carry themselves within the unit itself. I feel like morale boosters are essential in the army to help with productivity of the operational army as well as a preventative measure to ensure safety (dui, suicide/homicide), and improvement in communication . Officers state in formations that we need to build more morale within our sections, units, and even our regiment/brigade however I never see measures put in place to build this morale whether it be organization days, b.o.s.s. events that actually make it to the unit level etc.

Response by CW2 Joseph Evans made Jan 7 at 2014 1:42 AM

CW2 Joseph Evans — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 01:42:24 -0500

Budget. You can train, operate or improve morale. You can only pick 2...

Another problem is very few Commanders are able to get in the heads of their Soldiers to find the things that make a cohesive team (which really starts at the team/squad level). PC gets in the way a lot of times, because what really builds camaraderie are the stories, and we all know how the good stories start... "Then this girl steps up and slaps Johnny's face...", "Joe was doing body shots off this blonde in the tranny bar when ...", etc... in other words, all the experiences that will have an entire PLT standing in front of a 1SG trying to decide if his roughnecks are going to be up on charges before the week is out.

Response by CH (CPT) Heather Davis made Jan 7 at 2014 1:47 AM

CH (CPT) Heather Davis — Tue, 07 Jan 2014 01:47:20 -0500

SPC Martin:

I thank you for your personal courage, to bring this topic to the forefront. You will find in your military career that each duty station shapes you in different ways. I would recommend for you to find a focus of going to school, or working out with fellow peers.

I was very proficient at cards when I was a SPC, and I have always been an avid reader.

Leadership starts within, and I started building a Military Library and reading my regulations out of sheer boredom. Have you looked at MWR and possible trips that they offer at your duty station?

I again commend you on your transparency and I would check out what the Chaplains have to offer. Many times the Chaplain may have resources that he or she can offer to the junior troops.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jan 11 at 2014 12:01 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 00:01:47 -0500

“The best morale exist when you never hear the word mentioned. When you hear a lot of talk about it, it's usually lousy.”
―Dwight D. Eisenhower

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 10:42 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 22:42:04 -0500

Your unit clearly needs more floggings to improve morale.

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Jan 11 at 2014 10:42 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 22:42:07 -0500

I believe Soldiers are responsible for coming up with things to build morale; just get the CO to sign off on it. If you present your case with a good plan, give him every reason he needs to approve it.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 11 at 2014 10:52 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 22:52:06 -0500

I was stationed at Irwin.....
1- Are you on the regiment side or the garrison side?
2- With bein on the regiment side (11ACR side), its hard to do morale boosting events due to the operational tempo (rotations every month). They do schedule BOSS events and I went to org days.

Response by Col Joel Anderson made Jan 12 at 2014 11:39 AM

Col Joel Anderson — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 11:39:53 -0500

Morale is a comprehensive issue, not just for officers to contemplate. It is a team effort. Far too often, if there is a morale issue, we look at symptoms not the illness causing one issue or another with morale.

People up front are the essence of morale as are command climate, leadership styles, etc.....all of which have different implications and results on morale. As one sage SNCO once told me as I was struggling with a similar issue early in my career--"you can only influence and change that with which you own/control." Far too often we try to affix blame at one thing or another that influences things literally out of our control. Once I figured out the internal and external factors that influenced me, my units, and my personnel I truly took his advice to heart and worked it from there.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2014 9:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Mar 2014 21:01:58 -0500

11th ACR is the greatest unit in the Army, I served there twice and in all three Squardrons. I love it, the morale is only hard if you focus on the negative stuff. There was always something to do and the weather was awesome. Show pride in the Blackhorse! Paintball, four wheeling, RC cars, Vegas, Camping, biking, Big bear. So many adventures, great time. I left only to get a harder duty station aka Korea to sharpen my skills on the tanks. After recruiting I hope to go back. The new generation needs to put down the video games and enjoy life. Morale improves with pride for the unit, that is something you got to build. The more pride, the more morale and by that time companies will try to fight each other and have wicked parties with streaking, BB gun fights in the hallways, fuel RC car races outside the MP station, tactical paintball games in the hills near goldstone, always a BBQ outside and interhallway gaming events and we used to have a commander sign for a building formerly "OPFOR academy" for pc battles on games like counterstrike. Detergent wars in the hallways, Drunken darts, bar brawls with the visiting marines... All true stories from 11th ACR. I have fourteen coins from that unit alone.