[May 18, 2018] There is a lot to be said about military discipline and it is seen, often, as something both good and bad. What I have personally found is that most of the information I find on the subject is narrow and is not particularly helpful.
Stereotypes and a great deal of erroneous information is out in such quantity that the subject of military discipline is confusing. My job today is to clear that up.
“Only those that can see the invisible can do the impossible.” – Frank Gaines, American professional basketball player
I was contacted a few days ago by a U.S. Army General, now retired, who had been my mentor as a new Flag officer while I was in South Korea on several of the national-level combat exercises. Our conversation was about military discipline and he wanted to discuss it for a speech he was to give at West Point Military Academy.
Look up the definition of military discipline anywhere and you will get the same result; it is the strict and precise observance of the order and rules established by the military. As such, discipline is ingrained through training and ensures compliance in order to create a cohesive unit. Often this is seen as bad because there is no room for humanness, creativity, or kindness in this view.
Military discipline is much more and to fully understand we can go back to the origins of the word in Latin, disciplīna, which means “to instruct.” Discipline is a specific form of instruction which develops self-control, character, and efficiency. Thus, military discipline is a state of mind.
In the military, as in all organizations, the foundation to discipline is based on respect for and loyalty to a properly constituted authority. Therefore, it follows that discipline is not just about obedience to rules and regulations but encompasses every feature of military life. As such, this view of military discipline is good because it is the impetus of a stronger, more resilient, intelligent, and productive person.
Military discipline is a lifestyle. It is not something that can be turned on and off at will; it is either there or it is not. U.S. General George S. Patton once said in one of his famous speeches that, “There is only one sort of discipline, perfect discipline.”
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- These are the exercises that the North Korean leadership complains about.
- https://www.bartleby.com/essay/Military-Discipline-F35AQ2KTJ
Good comments, all. My Internet was down and I am late posting. I wanted to note that despite the bad reputation of military discipline, those who think this should take the time to find out a little more about it and how successful it has been in the US since the Revolutionary War against England.
A lot of people I know think that discipline means being rigid and having no creativity. Actually the opposite is true … at least in my opinion. Some of the most creative people I ever knew were extremely disciplined. They worked on their craft every day and focused their attention in anyway that made them better at what they did.
An army marches on discipline. People live good lives on discipline. That is why discipline is the essence of life.
Military and discipline are two words that go together well. But it is not restricted to it. As noted by our other commentators here in https://www.theleadermaker.com, discipline can be used for anything. The problem I see is that young people lack discipline. I know, I know !! Experience comes with age and discipline improves with experience. Thanks for another good article Gen Satterfield.
Sorry guys for being late on my posts. My family had an emergency and I was out of town. Recently I wanted sale my house and make a sufficient profit to buy another home and a nicer car in a part of town I wanted to be in. It took a little bit of courage to turn down several offers that were pretty good. But I held out – stayed the course in Navy-speak, and got the offer I need to accomplish what I was after. So, discipline can require a dose of courage too.
So much has been written on military discipline that it would fill a house with books and articles. However, as noted by Gen Satterfield, discipline is not just for the Army but for everyone who wants to accomplish something. That accomplishment, whether it is something simple or complex, requires a certain set of leader traits that are common across cultures.
Discipline is important whether we are on a diet to lose weight, cleaning our house, or doing our job at work. Some people have the ability to focus, work hard, and not let anything stand in their way of doing things. That is what discipline is about. Some of us have it, others don’t. Discrimination is an “internal” thing.
Discipline, like any other asset of leadership, can be overdone. Although the biggest problems we have is that folks simply don’t have enough discipline to accomplish what they want.
Good point, Yusaf.
I agree that military discipline has been stereotyped as something bad. Perhaps we brought that upon ourselves.
The key to good leadership is discipline. But discipline must be instilled externally and internally. They have to “want” to be a good soldier (or employee).
Here’s another pretty good article on discipline. There are not that many that lay out the full range of its meaning. http://masscasualties.com/2011/03/31/what-the-military-teaches-about-self-discipline/
Articles like this keep bringing me back to theLeaderMaker.com. For new readers this blog is a great way to set a dose of leadership quickly and succinctly.
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Here is a good article on military perspective from our British cousins.
https://www.bl.uk/world-war-one/articles/military-discipline
Good info and timely perspective on a subject people simply don’t understand nor care to learn about.
Interesting article. Thank you.
Discipline is the crux of great leadership. ‘Nuf said.
Yep! I must agree. Without discipline, there is little else left.
Agree! 🙂
Good! Cheers!
The medical community practices tight discipline over several aspects of behavior and ways of successfully ensuring the patient gets well. So discipline does matter and it is not a dirty word that so many young people think it is.
How true.
I like the quote from Frank Gaines. I’ll be using it today with my students.
Good and timely article today.
Yes, so often understood! Discipline, especially military discipline, is too often seen simply as following rules. Not so. It’s much more as you point out. Gen Satterfield you are spot on.
People avoid it for that reason.
Great comments on discipline. Thanks for helping set the record straight.