CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE BASRA, Iraq – A new generation of Soldiers are entering into military service. Back home on the block they are referred to as “Generation Y,” but here they are Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen.
Many people assume this new generation is referred to as “Y” simply because they follow Generation X. This, however, is not the case. The young people of today have earned their designation because they are relentlessly asking the question “why?”
There are many upsides to this “why” compulsion. Asking why is how people learn. But, there is a time and a place for everything. When you are given a lawful order, while serving in any branch of the military, it is neither the time nor the place.
The only time an order should be questioned is when it is illegal, immoral or a blatant, unnecessary safety violation. Keep in mind also that morals can be subjective.
Let me give a few examples of necessary orders which were blatant safety violations. I have personally been ordered to walk a wood line in order to draw fire and smoke out a sniper. I have also been ordered to throw myself onto triple-strand Concertina wire so the rest of my platoon could use me as a breach point.
Both of these scenarios were obviously unsafe and not much fun for young Pvt. Lankford, but they were necessary to accomplish the mission.
Believe it or not, before chemical and biological-agent test kits were readily available to front line units, privates were ordered to remove their masks to test the air. If they went into convulsions or died, the rest of the platoon kept their masks on. Dwell on that the next time you’re ordered to take out the trash.
Two of the most common words any Soldier hears in basic training are “get down.” This is not whispered or uttered in a soothing voice. It is bellowed in a loud and boisterous manner. Many young privates feel their drill sergeant is simply being cruel, but nothing could be further from the truth.
What the drill sergeant is doing is instilling a conditioned response into your subconscious and, as most of us learned, if you don’t get down fast enough you will do it again and again and again. In an environment where indirect fire attacks do occasionally occur, this conditioned response may save your life.
Now, back to the question why; every service member should feel free to ask this question once the task they have been given is complete. Any noncommissioned officer worth their salt would be glad to explain how and why things work to an up-and-coming leader.
I’ve heard it said there are leaders and there are followers. I disagree. I believe every man and woman wearing our country’s uniform has already shown the potential to be a leader, but you must first learn to be a good follower.
The definition of discipline is following orders without question or hesitation and doing what you know is right in the absence of orders. Learn it, live it and you are well on your way to becoming a leader.
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