Sweating the Small Stuff

For as long as I can remember, I feel as though I have been raised in a military environment. At a very young age my parents taught me to value discipline, manners, and to show and treat people with respect. In addition to these ‘staples’ of my upbringing, excelling in academics and on the athletic fields was where I further grew as a leader and learned to work with others to further distinguish myself from my peers. I knew based on my priorities and values that I was different from others by not only the way I carried myself but how I spoke to my peers and elders and the respect that I commanded. Perhaps those values were aided by both my grandfather’s serving in the military and my uncle attending West Point, a graduate of the class of

So, it is very important to follow the organisations rules and procedures because rules and procedure is the main key that completes a business for instance; many big businesses these days are still

There is thus little chance for participation among the subordinates in the military, in the establishment of the standards of general orders. These can include anything from restrictions on alcohol during wartime to the requirement of avoiding tattoos as a soldier. The military is a fairly formal and strict hierarchical institution and orders are channeled gradually down. Difficulties in the military are generally attributed to the breakdown of this structure by lack of efficiency resulting from the inability of an individual or group of individuals to follow the chain of command. Following orders instills discipline and ensures that everyone in the military is in alignment with others' by providing a cohesive plan of instructions that ties the military together as one unit.

Second, the Army is governed by two related ethos. On the first day of initial training Soldiers are taught the importance of the seven Army values and begin to memorize the Soldier’s Creed. Like doctors and lawyers, “the military is an expert group, charged by its client to conduct work governed by a professional ethic” according to Lieutenant General Robert Caslen. A recent study commissioned by the Army found that 93% of Soldiers share their personal with the one set by the Army. Again, according to Caslen “the Army Values have sustained our institution through some of our most difficult years and will continue to be the foundation of our profession.”

A leader unwilling to sacrifice individual goals for the good of the unit cannot convince other unit members to do so. The mission suffers with potentially devastating effects. While personal goals often coincide with Army goals, there is no room for personal agendas at the expense of the institution or the American people. It is a standard in the hierarchy of military customs and courtesies that the leader must display to his subordinates that he is willing to put in extra effort, sacrifice personal time, and show initiative and motivation in order to achieve the same from his Soldiers.

Army leaders must balance the link between the Army’s culture and it’s climate and institutional practices. When there is a proper balance it has a huge impact on the mindset of the Army’s Soldiers. Their actions or inactions impacts the five key attributes of the profession, and the four fields of expertise, and have long term effects on the Army’s culture and climate. These actions influence Soldiers’ perceptions that they are serving professional who have answered the call of service to the republic, it is important that Soldiers understand that their role is a calling and not just a job.

Following orders is one of the most important things you do being in the Army, or any branch in the armed services, enlisted or reserve. Obedience is what enables the military to operate in an organized and effective manner which is clearly very important during challenging military situations. While many individuals can question the notion of obedience in daily their life, this luxury is often not available to us in the military, where the grand goals and aims require smooth internal functioning and coordination throughout the chain of command. Indeed, many of the standards that put up with and endure would be frowned upon outside the military, yet they are essential to our work's success within. For example, punishment is never really deemed to be a positive occurrence in an average person’s life, whereas in the military, it is meant to strengthen one's determination and instill discipline. It also enables a person to learn and fully take on the importance of following orders in. Not following orders is not an optional choice that we in the armed forces can make upon signing that contract. In fact, the act of the act of disobedience is considered to be an infraction and a person who placed himself in such a situation can find himself facing negative counseling statements, or smoking’s. Thus, respect and obedience is of the utmost significance in the military as it helps

The main focusing point of army to produce the best soldiers is their training. The selection of soldiers in their teen age years is the best policy for almost all the countries. Through these teens cognitive development it is very easy to train them according to army’s agenda or we can say that their mind can be easily washed as according to U.S Marin Drill Instructor “ I guess you could say we brainwash them a little bit .“ (Pg. 2)

Conscientious effort is required to develop and prepare Soldiers and Army Civilians to make right decisions and to take attendant actions (The White Paper, 2016). Leaders are in control of refining the quality of character instilled in Soldiers and DA civilians. How does the military as a whole directly guarantee proper character development to the force, you might ask? Or what should effective leaders do to indoctrinate Army values and characteristics within their ranks? They do so by teaching the Army values to every new recruits from day one of basic training as soon as they step off the bus. Collectively with the multitude of attributes given from our leaders through years of experience and ADRP 1/ADP 6-22; these values have established the groundwork for Soldiers to use as basis of what it is to be a person good character. After members absorb these values, their leaders certify devotion. Abiding to these ethics of the Army values embodies cohesion; it challenges the belief and self-confidence crucial to cooperation and mission success.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) are a unique institution consisting of a wide cross section of our nation’s population. It is due to this vast representation of cultural and regional upbringings that there lies a requirement for an integration process into military life. In this paper I will discuss some training procedures utilized during my basic recruit school training in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, and the theories and models of psychology and behaviour they were based upon.

This happy medium is what I believe to be a rarely achievable goal especially with so many different personalities and individuals. Although the Army instills in us from our arrival at reception a level of conformity, teamwork, mission accomplishment, brotherhood, army standards and values it is something that is developed over time. Every soldier need to realize that he/she is part of a bigger picture which is the protection of our nation and the American way of life. Although every soldier comes from different places in the world, has different religious views, has different traditions and practices we must remember that we are in the United States

The issue of diversity in the Army is neither a recent development nor a modern-day societal impasse. The Army has faced this problem for a significant

In the military groups and teams have an important role when accomplishing the organizations goals, and to the success of the mission. When socializing its members I have experienced both institutionalized role, and individual role orientation, and have observed the advantages of both types of role orientation. When Soldiers are headed to basic training, going into their specialized occupational training, or headed off for a deployment institutionalized role orientation has tremendous benefits. Two limiting factors that we consider is time, and size. In each of these events, the military has a goal to socialize hundreds of Soldiers. In a matter of a month or so, Soldier are taught to respond at command, instilling the Army Values and beliefs,

Leadership, according to the Army doctrine, represents individuals’ ability to influence people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission and improving the organization (“Leadership” FM 6-22). However, the varying characteristics of individuals that the Army attracts may instill this doctrine in many different ways, leading to different representations of leadership. Some individuals choose to lead their subordinate in a stern matter, only displaying matured emotions and a “tough-loving” attitude to guide them in the right direction. Others

Seeing one soldier being treated differently, weather this treatment be positive or negative, sets this soldier apart from the rest. This difference in treatment further undermines that unit’s esprit de corps and cohesion. And if this happens that unit’s loyalty can begin to be tested not only amongst them, but can also undermine that unit’s leader who has to spend so much of his and her time dealing with that unit’s only trouble spot.