Is the Army's MRT program in philosophical tension with the "no defect" mentality prevalent in the Army due to the draw-down?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:04:52 -0400

Is the Army's Master Resilience Training in any way at odds with the actual "no defect" mentality that defines the current active-duty climate? MRT trains Soldiers to believe that they can come back from mistakes, while their chain-of-command issues them career-ending punishments for relatively minor offenses. How do commanders balance the two competing values of clemency and discipline? What is the best answer to help our Soldiers be strong personally and professionally?

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2015 4:09 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:09:48 -0400

Full reintegration with an emphasis on positive social activities. Find mentors who have been in the sandbox and who can relate to the new returnees. I think that there are too many gimmick programs out there. Whether or not MRT is one depends entirely upon the recipient. And, therein, lies the singular, critical issue: the individuality of the person. The human mind varies like fingerprints.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Oct 18 at 2015 4:09 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 16:09:55 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member great topic as a former MRT trainer. It would be nice for the command to support it, mines never did. But to answer your question professionally and mentally for the MRT to be effective it needs to have the support from the COC and to incorporate it in all aspects of training. The regulation (AR) is the law for UCMJ not to coincide with resiliency issues the command should have the Soldiers best interest with classes (mandatory every quarter).

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Oct 18 at 2015 7:15 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Sun, 18 Oct 2015 19:15:37 -0400

I did not have a lot of interaction with MRT before I retired. Some of that was because I was in an USAR unit that did not have the time to do that and also a deployment. That being said, to me it is something that most units will have because it is a requirement and then just give it lip service. I would bet that as the Army gets smaller and everything becomes more competitive, that there will not even be a balance. Discipline will win out even if it means ending the career of a Soldier. That is the fact of how the Army operates.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 19 at 2015 4:55 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 19 Oct 2015 16:55:27 -0400

Some times superior commanders will demand jurisdiction for some offenses. Hope you are enjoying your PL time!