Today, I want to talk about discipline and enforcing discipline within the unit. After serving for just over two years as a 2LT, I still have a lot to learn about what I think are the two types of discipline a successful PL needs to have within his/her unit.

The first type of discipline I mentioned I think is necessary is personal discipline amongst the leadership. Leading by example is by far the most constructive aspect of being a leader I have seen so far in my short time in the military. It’s one of the few thing do that I feel my Soldiers actually see me do. Whether I am completing NCOERs or developing planning for future training, my Soldiers may walk by the office and simply see me on a computer, not entirely sure of what may be on the monitor. But when they see a clean and taken care of uniform, a freshly shaven face, and a physically fit PL, I’m confident that they are more inclined to pay attention to what I have to say. Thus, creating the environment of a winning team and PLT. From there they will be more inclined to do what is right before they show up to formation i.e. get a haircut, wash and iron their uniform, shave every day and not try to get away with minimal standard, but simply exceed standard.

But, what happens when as a PL you see that the PLT is lacking this discipline? This is the second part of what I would like to talk about. Sometimes I feel like what a Soldier might do or get into is above a PL’s or PSG’s control. At this point, as a leadership team, it is time to start enforcing discipline. I don’t believe in NCO business, however I do believe that at a certain line their is definitely a line crossed where the responsibility falls to either the PL or PSG. When it involves my Squad Leaders and above, yes I will enforce the discipline. But when it falls on the other side of that boundary, I feel it is upon the NCO’s to mentor, coach, and discipline their Soldiers. If not for simple military regulations, I feel that we owe it to these young Soldiers that enlisted to be apart of our team to teach them the valuable life lessons they should be taught while serving.

What does enforcing discipline mean? Is it a smoke session? Is it a counseling? Is it warning that if they don’t shape up that life is going to be hard for them? The answer is neither yes nor no. There’s a time and place for everything. I definitely don’t recommend a PL tune up a Solider or NCO in front of everyone or maybe even at all. Sometimes it may be just finding out what is going on in that Soldiers personal life that is causing the need for reinforcement and discipline.

Discipline should not always be negative, which in most cases drive the Soldiers farther from where we want them to be. It can be positive and reinsure that we in fact care about the Soldier and want them to succeed. Discipline is simply used to get the Soldier in question back into the groove and back in sight of the target we are aiming for.

Does anyone have anything else to add with this issue? And if so what exactly does discipline mean to you? I would love to hear what other PL’s and PLT leadership teams have been able to accomplish by using the right type of disciplinary action.