Chapter 5: DISCIPLINE

    1. Definition.
      1. According to the dictionary, discipline is:
        1. Training that is expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
        2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training.
        3. A systematic method to obtain obedience.
        4. A state of order based upon submission to rules and authority.
        5. To train by instruction and control.

      2. Discipline is a learned behavior. It is much more than blind obedience and punishment. Rather, it is a state of order and obedience that is a result of regulations and orders. You must be disciplined to achieve your goals. Discipline is training that develops, molds, strengthens, or perfects mental faculties and character. It involves placing group goals above your own, being willing to accept orders from higher authority, and carrying out those orders effectively. Part of the job of a cadet is to make their fellow cadets aware of the purpose and meaning of discipline.

    2. Types of Discipline.
      1. Self Discipline. Self discipline is a willing and instinctive sense of responsibility that leads you to know what needs to be done. Getting to work on time, knowing the job, setting priorities, and denying personal preferences for more important ones all measure how self disciplined you are. This is the highest order of all disciplines because it springs from the values you use to regulate and control your actions. The ideal situation is to motivate cadets to willingly discipline themselves, and exercise self control and direction to accomplish the task.
      2. Task Discipline. Task discipline is a measure of how well you meet the challenges of your job. Task discipline requires that you have a strong sense of responsibility to do your job to the best of your ability.
      3. Group Discipline. Group discipline means teamwork. Since most jobs in CAP require that several people work effectively as a team, group discipline is very important.
      4. Imposed Discipline. Imposed discipline is the enforced obedience to legal orders and regulations. It is absolute in emergencies when there is no time to explain or discuss an order an order. Much of your CAP training is to teach you to carry out orders quickly and efficiently. This type of discipline provides the structure and good order necessary throughout your unit to accomplish a task no matter the situation.

    3. Purpose. Discipline is required for any activity where people work together toward a common objective. The opposite of discipline is anarchy, where each person does what he wants without concern for others. Any organization, from a civilized state to a football team to a brownie troop depends on group cooperation, and cooperation cannot be achieved without discipline. Discipline is the structure and order within an individual or within a group that allows for true cooperation, real support of the mission and the members of the team or organization.
    4. History.
      1. Having established that discipline is a normal part of everyday life, what is the significance of "military" discipline? The term has gone through a variety of meanings and variations. It has meant the practice of drill at handling arms. (Fact books published during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with titles of "Military Discipline" are now called "Drill Regulations.") While punishment played a large role in maintaining discipline, such usage was restricted largely to the church; military leaders knew that a man motivated by fear would not perform very well under conditions of battle. During the time of Frederick the Great, emphasis was placed on discipline or drill, so that greater firepower might be obtained from the cumbersome muskets of that period. At the same time, emphasis was placed on sense of obedience, since prompt response to orders was necessary for each part of the firing "team" to function effectively.
      2. With the improvement of weapons and the rise of citizen armies fighting for a cause in which they believed, there came a change in the character of discipline. Greater initiative was required on the part of junior officers, and there was less necessity for the machinelike regularity of performing the motions of loading and firing. Military discipline was still required however, so that a body of troops could act together and with one purpose. Possibly the best definition for our situation is quoted from Army Regulations No. 600-10, 2 June 1942:
      3. Definition—Military discipline is that mental attitude and state of training which renders obedience instinctive under all conditions. It is founded upon respect for, and loyalty to properly constituted authority. While it is developed primarily by military drill, every feature of military life has its effects on military discipline. It is generally indicated in an individual or unit by smartness of appearance and action; by cleanliness and neatness of dress, equipment, or quarters; by respect for seniors; and by prompt and cheerful execution by subordinates of both the letter and the spirit of legal orders of their lawful superiors.

      4. There is much to the above paragraph. The first few sentences have been used as general knowledge in the past. You have been provided with the entire text in the hope that you will read and reread it carefully. Please note that it explains how a well-disciplined unit behaves and appears rather than what to do about people who misbehave. There is no mention of punishment in the definition. A well-disciplined organization has little need for punishment in the sense that we discussed it in the section on training. This is because the members of the organization are constantly striving to improve and meet the goals of the group.

    5. Maintaining Discipline.
      1. To have a well-disciplined organization, it is of first importance that all officers and NCO’s be well disciplined. They must constantly keep in mind the principle that force of example is one of the best methods for influencing people. They must themselves have "...that mental attitude and state of training which renders obedience and proper conduct instinctive under all conditions." All staff members must realize that they cannot expect respect and obedience from others unless they themselves are obedient and respectful to their officers and others in authority. When an order is received, the first and only thought should be to carry it out as quickly and carefully as possible.
      2. The keys to fostering an effective and harmonious team can be summed up in two words: education and training. Every cadet staff member must appreciate the absolute necessity for self-improvement, intense practice, and positive education and training for cadets. You remember best what you repeated most. This is one of the basic laws of learning! Practice makes perfect; repetition strengthens corrections. As a cadet staff member, never let yourself or your people repeat errors in training. Correct substandard behavior if you expect discipline to be maintained. The most useful tools you have for this are described below.
        1. Setting the example. Because of your grade and your position you are a role model. Whether you realize it or not, others are constantly watching and imitating your behavior. Sometimes, people learn to imitate less than desirable behavior. For example, if you show less than acceptable grooming standards, your cadets will eventually do the same. Because you are a role model, consciously and continually set a positive example.
        2. Gaining knowledge. You must know your job, understand its importance, and realize how it contributes to the success of your unit.
        3. Know the requirements of the unit. Knowing a regulation or standard exists is not enough; understand why it exists.
        4. Communicating. Ensure cadets understand the information given them. Ensure the two-way flow of communication is actually received and understood. Communication is both verbal and nonverbal. Each needs to reinforce the other. Do not say one thing and then do something else. A cadet staff member's effectiveness is measured partly by your communication skills and how well people understand you.
        5. Enforcing standards. Consistently and continually correct anyone who is not complying with CAP policy and regulations. Treat people fairly; when two cadets make the same mistake, both must be corrected at the same time, in the same way. Inconsistency erodes cooperation you have with your cadets because they will not know what you expect. You gain commitment from cadets when they are a part of a system they believe in, feel is fair, and understand.

    6. Tools.
      1. Drill. In establishing and preserving discipline, close-order drill and ceremonies have great value, as they accustom the officers and NCO’s to giving orders, and their subordinates to following them. They might be termed "practice in giving and following orders" and are of great assistance in making "...obedience and proper conduct instinctive under all conditions." Ceremonies have added value of appealing to the cadet’s pride in himself and the organization.
      2. Customs & Courtesies. Saluting and observance of proper customs and courtesies are some of the most obvious signs of a well-disciplined organization. Thoroughly explain the reason and history behind them to all cadets. The proper observance should be made a point of pride. Officers and NCO’s should be extremely careful in setting an outstanding example at all times, observing all CAP and USAF customs and courtesies, and rendering the salute at every opportunity. Cleanliness and neatness are other signs of an alert, well-disciplined organization. A unit that is cleanly dressed and neat, with their equipment and facilities in good order, always has superior morale to that of a unit that is lax in these matters.

    7. Conclusion. As has been stated, discipline within a unit increases its effectiveness and gives it structure. At encampment, the development of discipline serves two purposes. First, it gives the flight structure and increases the effectiveness of the training program. Second, it provides to the cadet the advantage of working in a disciplined organization and helps him to understand how to build discipline in himself and his unit. For those reasons, the importance of setting of a good example, of developing and maintaining a well-disciplined organization, and helping cadets to understand how discipline effects a group cannot be understated. A well-disciplined flight will develop as a productive team with high morale, and is key in establishing an educational, worthwhile encampment experience.

 

 

 

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