Good Order and Discipline in the United States Army

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Institution

Introduction

The importance of the United States Army can never be gainsaid as far as the wellbeing of the country is concerned. It is mainly charged with the responsibility of protecting the United States from external aggression. Needless to say, the United States army has gained an incredible amount of respect both from within and without, thanks to its accomplishments in making the world safer and secure. While there was a tremendous amount of investment made to ensure their success in their varied wars, it goes without saying that the accomplishments would have been depreciably reduced were it not for their good order and discipline. Discipline refers to a type of training where individuals become subject to certain rules and regulations that are implemented or put in place in order to mold behavior (Brown, 2001). It may also be defined as a specific type of instruction that develops character, efficiency and self control in an individual. Good order and discipline have been recognized in the civilian world as of utmost importance. Good order and discipline are recognized as fundamental or essential for the enhancement or improvement of performance, as well as the provision of an honest and safe environment that is conducive to attainment of any institution’s goals. This is the same case for the military, where the two virtues among others are fundamental pillars in the proper functioning and smooth operation of the military. Discipline and good order in the United States army is measured through varied criteria including dignified self-respect and pride in the institution, the unit, as well as oneself, willingness to make sacrifices and work for the greater good, and respect for authority and fellow men shown through consideration and courtesy. Army men and women must also have a smart appearance as any slack behavior would reverberate even when they are in action. These measures underline the fact that good order and discipline are aimed at the efficient attainment of the overall army objectives.

One of the key importance of good order and discipline in the United States army is the ensuring the efficient execution of duties and responsibilities. Infantrymen carry out varied tasks, some of which may be mundane while others are adrenaline pumping. Irrespective of the tasks that the infantryman is carrying out, the common denominators are good order and discipline where the soldiers follow orders and directives of their leaders without any questions pertaining to the task, its motives, or even the judgment of the leader in giving the order (Pushies, 2001). The essence of discipline revolves around the maintenance of the innovative thought of an individual while executing duties and tasks that are assigned in line with their accompanying instructions simultaneously (Pushies, 2001). Discipline necessitates the incorporation of standards to which every individual must adhere. This allows for the proper and timely execution of duties and responsibilities, be they clearing landing zones for deployment or jumping off aircraft. It necessitates the incorporation of orderliness, concentration and time management, all of which are fundamental to the enhancement of efficiency in the United States army (Pushies, 2001).

In addition, discipline and good order come as essential in ensuring the safety of the infantrymen and the country at large. In most of the missions to which the United States armies are sent, decisions have to be made at the nick of time. The proper execution of these decisions has a bearing on or affects the safety of the infantrymen and the successful execution of their mission. Any small mishap can have irreparable damage on the institution especially considering that the missions are usually extremely dangerous (Brown, 2001). Army scholars note that most of the so-called accidents are preventable if only the people stay disciplined and focused to the overall goal of executing the orders. This not only applies in instances of combat but also in army barracks and offices. For example, there are standards and regulations laid out on the proper handling and storage of firearms even in the barracks. Any indiscipline or deviation from these standards could have far-reaching effects such as having firearms in the wrong hands or even insufficient and inefficient allocation of the same, which could jeopardize the safety of the infantrypersons.

In addition, discipline and good order come in handy in enhancing stability both in the United States army and the country at large. It goes without saying that the United States army, like any other institution, has ranks starting from the lowest ranks, the Privates, through the sergeant, Sergeant Major through to the Sergeant Major or the Army (Brown, 2001). These ranks not only determine their pay scales but also their authority, roles, responsibilities, as well as the decisions lying on their shoulders. It is worth noting that their decisions are supposed to be sufficiently synchronized in such a way that they all point at the same goal and attain the same objective (Pushies, 2001). It is only discipline and good order that would allow infantrypersons to obey an order even when they are facing death, make strategic attacks and retreats, all of which are aimed at safeguarding success in the missions. The absence of good order and discipline would create an erratic, frequently impulsive and uncertain environment in the army, which would have costly repercussions both for the institution and the country at large (Pushies, 2001). Such an environment would make it considerably difficult for the leaders in all ranks to make synchronized decisions or lead effectively. Such uncertainty and impulsiveness would allow for instability in the institution, which could have unpleasant repercussions. As Brown (2001) notes, lack of discipline may lead to the loss of smooth and determined operating action, as well as combat efficiency. This was seen in the Russian army in World War I, as well as the strikes in the U.S. Army following World War II. These may be blamed on the deterioration of the entire organization, where the local authorities were unable to correct the situation in time to avert the widespread deterioration and deficiency of authority (Brown, 2001).

On the same note, good order and discipline safeguard an element of fairness in the United States army. While discipline is mostly examined as a one-way aspect flowing from subordinates to the seniors, it also must be exhibited by the seniors through fair treatment of the subordinates especially with regard to promotions and allocation of duties. Scholars note that most unfortunate incidences involving the army result from indiscipline and insubordination, preceded by general slackness in command (Pushies, 2001). This is especially where the subordinates are dissatisfied with the allocation of duties and responsibilities. This can cause instability, which may be detrimental in the attainment of the overall army objective especially in combat .

In conclusion, the army is one of the most fundamental pillars of the United States charged with safeguarding the security of the country from external aggression. While its success is a function of numerous variables, the most fundamental are discipline and good order. They ensure efficient execution of duties, enhance safety in the army, safeguard stability, and ensure fairness in the institution. All these have a bearing on the overall attainment of its goals.

References

Pushies, F. J. (2001). U.S. Army Special Forces. St. Paul, MN: MBI Pub. Co.

Brown, J. E. (2001). Historical dictionary of the US Army. Westport, Conn. [u.a.: Greenwood Press.