Military Courtesy and Discipline

• Discipline - Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order. A systematic method to obtain obedience. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority.
• Military Discipline - state of order and obedience existing within a Command. Subordination of individual will for the good of the group. Demands habitual but reasoned obedience to Command. Created by training, use of punishment and rewards. Demands correct performance of duty
• Importance of Discipline - Insures orderly & effective group action = teamwork. Instill a sense of obligation to oneself, to his commander, unit, and entire organization. Insure unit efficiency in battle
• Creating a Climate for Discipline - Training. Judicious use of punishment and rewards. Instilling sense of confidence and responsibility
• Training - Develops Teamwork in accomplishing tasks. Unify actions into single effort to accomplish the mission. Develops habit of prompt obedience to orders. Enables one to learn what is required in the battlefield.
• Awards – “positive incentives” only to those who deserve
• Punishment - to reform or eliminate those unfit in the organization Punish only the guilty person/party. Impose promptly. Make the guilty party/person realize his mistake. (“sandwich method”). Impose punishment appropriate for the offense. Should be done in private.
• Instilling sense of confidence and responsibility - Makes one realize his obligations not only to himself but to his entire organization.
• How Discipline is Measured- result of the job. Subordinate’s attitude. Performance of jobs even in the absence of the Commander.
• Some Forms/Applications of Discipline - Fire discipline, Water discipline, March discipline, and Combat discipline.
• Fire discipline - start, control and stopping of fires during combat actions.
• Water discipline - proper and wise use of water
• March discipline - march orders, alertness and security maintenance during marches.
• Combat discipline - continue fighting against overwhelming odds.
• Juan Carlos I, Spanish Monarch - “A soldier, an army, which loses its sense of discipline ceases to be an army.”
• President Charles de Gaulle - Military Professionalism
• Courtesy - expression or manifestation of consideration for the rights of others. Polite or considerate behavior: politeness that shows consideration for other people or good manners. Polite behavior; a polite gesture or remark.
• Men of arms salute - As form of greeting As expression of respect.
• Slaves - unworthy of bearing arms Forbidden to salute
• Military Courtesy - Acts of politeness, civility and respect. Serves to smoothen personal relationship.
• The Salute - most important form of military courtesy. The way it is executed indicates the state of morale and discipline.
• Persons Entitled to Salute - commissioned officers of the AFP. Commissioned officers of allied nations. High civilian officials or foreign dignitaries during military honors.
• when not to salute - while at work, when indoors, except when reporting or a sentinel or a guard, when carrying articles on both hands or when saluting is impractical, when riding in a fast moving vehicle and the other is dismounted except when the vehicle is clearly marked or it is a part of a ceremony, when meeting a prisoner of war.
• Honors to the National Color and Anthem - When the national anthem is played or an uncased color passed by Face the flag, stand at attention and render a smart salute If no flag is near Face the source of music and salute Vehicles are brought to a halt Troops onboard need not disembark Passengers sit at attention and do not salute The driver may disembark and stand by the door of the vehicle and salute.
• Reporting to a new unit - make a courtesy call to your immediate commander do not wait until you are called to make a call
• Special rules on calls - calls must be brief coordinate with the S1 or adjutant or the aide-de-camp arrive on or before the scheduled time of call
• Purpose of courtesy calls - To know and be known by the seniors
• Forms of Address - Addressing Seniors Addressing Juniors
• Addressing Seniors - juniors address their seniors as “sir” when a marked disparity in rank exists, juniors address their seniors in the third person
• Addressing Juniors - by their names: you may call juniors and contemporaries by first name avoid calling your subordinates by their last names only by their proper titles: A Sergeant Major is addressed as “Sergeant Major” A First Sergeant is addressed as “First Sergeant” Sergeants are addressed as “Sergeants” Corporals are addressed as “Corporals” Private First Class and Privates are addressed as “Privates”
• Other Forms of Courtesy - avoid undue familiarity with your seniors never invite an EP to an officer’s club walk on the left of the senior - keep in step with him give your seniors priority in entering any conveyance to pass a senior while walking, salute and ask permission to go ahead “I desire” or “I wish” statements of your commander should be carried out with all authority and power of an order.
• Washington, George (1732-1799) - "Discipline is the soul of an army."