Why does the Army appear to have a discipline issue with the lower enlisted ranks?

Its called poor leadership.

I think something that the Army is missing is Army history. Soldiers don't know WHY they should be proud of the the service they chose to serve in. I served in the Navy Sea Cadets as a kid before joining and medically retiring from the Army. While we were just kids in the Sea Cadets, we were expected to intimately know Navy history and why we should be proud of the Navy. I got ZERO Army history in basic training in 1994. I know nothing about the Army such as when it was officially founded or great events in the past or anything at all for that matter. I was infinitely more proud of the Navy as a Sea Cadet than I was of the Army as an actual soldier. Don't get me wrong, I am proud to have served and I believe that the Army has many redeeming qualities, but it's just not taught. Ask any Marine the birthday of the Marines, ask any sailor for a quote from a famous sailor or tide turning battle, (sorry I don't know anything comparable for the Air Force), and you get the answer you're looking for. Ask a soldier something from Army history and you get crickets--*chirp chirp*. The Army needs to spend quality time in basic training teaching the soldiers Army history and Army pride. Along with that, those who can't grasp that concept simply need to be kicked to the curb.

I had a gunnie explain it to me this way.in the army before you go into combat.you get a hot meal.2 beers 8 hour sleep.I'm the marine corps they shit on bread give it to you.then you go into combat

I saw this issue beginning at my last assignment before I retired. I followed it as my stepson did his time,(medically retired) and have watched in the news and Army sites over the years. One reason was the "DEATH" of the truly professional NCO Corps. It became everyone was worthy of promotion whether they actually were or not and a lot of those sergeants had no loyalty to the military or their own soldiers/leaders. I've read stories of sergeants who could not zero or qualify with their individually assigned weapons let alone have no MOS proficiency. The bottom line is that politics and a undetermined time at war has seriously undermined the discipline and respect I not only taught my soldiers and those around us but gave way completely to individual pride instead of Esprit de Corps. Sadly I wonder what it will take before our senior leaders tell their civilian counterparts that yes right are important for all servicemembers but not at the cost of professionalism and discipline. Judt take a look at the news, suicides, murders and defections are the norm now. In all of my 20 years of service I never thought this would happen.

The last administration deliberately sought to undermine US combat prestige, Pastel uniforms for target designation...we still won, ROEs requiring the enemy to close before engagements we still won... Introduction to sensitivity training and integration of the sexes in all combat arms, they'll bury a lot in China. with the watered down training and standards .I wonder if they even PMCS on vehicles anymore ...because it's TOO heavy and uncomfortable.

When I was at AIT the Army's primary schoolschooling. Some soldiers to be high schoolish.
Now you can drink all the beer you can drink.
But I also saw the First Sgt stand before the Company and preach to us about the wrongs of drinking then get drunk as a skunk at a Company's party. Then go to church and preach to the soldiers about the sins of drinking. He also jumps on soldiers for getting too drunk.
So young soldiers and older soldiers will get drunk and make a fool out of themselves.
I've learned that no matter at what age soldiers will get drunk.
In Germany on a Mountain Top, the young soldiers would get drunk because they could. One soldier almost died because of alcohol poisoning. I had to take her to a German Hospital for treatment.
I learned that if I was going to drink it would be in my home. But never again would i get drunk.

CPT

Everything start back in 1987
When I was a Drill Sergeant a team of doctor visit my unit and interviewed all the Drill Sergeant asking what was the motive for us to implement harsh discipline on new recruits. All of us give our reasons of why discipline implemented in the early stage will mold a soldier to follow orders without hesitation. About couple months later the Army implement new rules such as soldier can’t be doing PT before 6:00am and so on
Now years later good leaders has to put out with indiscipline soldiers

Having served in the Marine Corps and the Army, there is a dramatically different approach to discipline. In the Corps, there is little interaction between enlisted and NCO's. The junior enlisted know little about their NCO's which works well when orders are given and executed. The Army, on the other hand, allows some fraternization in the ranks between NCOs and enlisted. It makes for a more relaxed atmosphere. At the end of the day, orders are given, received, and executed.
In addition, I've found Army soldiers have their MOS down cold and are much better at their field skills than Marines.

Is it true the Army has a "Time Out Card"?

I've seen the discipline of soldiers decline with each generation. When spanking in schools were taken away the discipline also declined.
In the late 70's the government was trying to pass that children can turn parents in for spanking them. This is when parents didn't know how to discipline their children, didn't want to get reported especially by their children.
As 21st century comes along, discipline is out the window. Some soldiers are disciplined while others just don't care.
And the Military has both types in their ranks.