Quote:
Originally posted by ledhedsymbols
The biggest problem that I face is a little bit different than most. I'm a watch commander at a military prison. Because the organization is so different than the civilian world, some of the problems are unique to a military organization.
I have a number of personell in my watch team that are marking time until they either retire from the Navy, or finish their enlistment. What this means to me is that these people are doing the bare minimum to keep out of trouble. I can't fire them because it's the military. I've also had my throat slit by the chain-of-command. The facility is understaffed, and they like their short workdays and long weekends. If we were to lose more people out of the watch teams, that would mean some of them would have to take up the slack, which means 12 hour shift work like the rest of us. Because of that, they refuse to follow through anytime I try to discipline the slackers. With no teeth, there isn't much I can do.
Some folks respond to positive tactics, and because of that I use them whenever I can. Unfortunately there are always some that refuse to be part of the team no matter what I do. Since I have no disciplinary authority, and the chain-of-command above me refuses to support me or take their own action; I'm often left holding the bag.
That is the single biggest reason I'm getting out of the Navy. I'm just plain tired of all the above.
Micah
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Wow Micah, you have a very difficult situation. As a military man myself, you may want to force feed discipline into your men. In the military, the standards are set and it is everyone's duty to meet or exceed them. Although you do not have the support of your superiors, you yourself can mandate the military standards.
I would like to recommend a movie called
Twelve O'Clock High. It is about a undisciplined unit that is taken over by a strong leader (Gregory Peck). Positive enforcement and peer pressure may work with the majority.
I think the most important person in the realm of change is not the first person who seeks change. It is the second person who supports the first. This team can multiply the positive change and encourage internal improvement.
Good luck, David