Importance of Being on Time in the U.S Army - Essay Example

Importance of Being on Time in the U.S Army In the U.S. army, being on time is very important since the repercussion of not showing up on time can be disastrous. As far as a normal occupation is concerned, one needs to wake up, go to work and return back home in the evening. These are the predominant activities associated with normal jobs but which is very different with army who are in constant training with their minds, body and soul fully focused on the combatant environment. Clearly, the level of engagement and commitment in an army environment is extremely involving and any simple mistake one does can have extensive consequences like for instance losing one’s life. It is important to understand that habits a soldier develops while in training may likely be reflected in the battlefield when they have fully graduated to a soldier. If one develops the habit of going late for training this may happening during a real combat. An instance may arise when soldiers for example needs backup team, since one was used in going late for training, they may also fail to realize it and turn up late and by the time that person turns up for the call, time is much spent. This is dangerous since the unit on the ground might be subdued owing to the fact the commander of the backup team, failed to appear on time. That is why it is important to be on time so that on develops and natures that culture for a soldier who exhibits this aspect of military life has high chances of surviving during combats. Reporting on time is very important as it eases and reduces anxiety. This is because all soldiers are expected to report to their squad leaders. Through this reporting, the NCO and the rest of the command chain is able to ensure that all soldier are at the right place and time. If all soldiers appear on time, it will be easy to know which are missing and a follow up may be made to find out why they are missing. In doing so, it will be easy to find out if a soldier is missing or not. If one is however does not appear on time, yet they are well, it may bring confusion and other soldiers may start wondering where the person is. Such confusion and frustrations are dangerous to the unit for failure to report to the leader may bring in the assumption of one is injured, hurt or has simply taken and AWOL (Akin, 4). The formation that is usually done in the morning is one of the most important formations for that particular day. It is through this formation that the chain of command is able to know the missing soldier. If the solider who is on charge that particular day fails to provide a list of all soldiers, then he or she will have a lot of troubles and so will the chain of command. This is because; this morning formation enables higher command to assign duties to soldiers. By looking at the formation, it is easy to tell who is on detail and who is available to be assigned more details. Most important, paycheck is based on one’s appearance in this formation. It is therefore important to appear on time so that one can be assigned details and avoid causing troubles to the commander of that day. Another important formation is the work formation (Akin, 6). If one fails to appear on time, it leads to complication of the current mission being undertaken and to the entire unit. This is because the responsibility of the missing soldiers will have to be shoulder by the rest of the unit. As a result, it may cause frustrations leading to poor performance in the mission. In addition to that, it makes the other soldiers tired since they will be doing something that they had not prepared for. Failure to show up will mandate the chain of command to implement training to correct the offence and which may be unfavorable. It is therefore important to show up on time as a soldier. Dependability and accountability are some of the traits that a soldier must have. Being on time consistently simply shows that a soldier is dependable and information can be given to that person on behalf of others. If however one is not on time and was supposed to deliver important information to the unit, he or she will put the unit in danger (Akin, 9). In addition to that, if one shows up late they and they were supposed to relay information to the unit, they end up delaying the team. Deployment simply means all the team will lag behind for time will be wasted in waiting for the information. As a result, the day will be hectic and lengthy. Furthermore, this may result in misunderstanding and irritation. Showing up in time not only minimizes such incidents but it prevents them from taking place. Showing in time to accomplish extra work that someone is given is sign of responsibility. If one is given a task to accomplish and they appear late, it simply show that they are irresponsible and do not care about the tasks they are mandated to do. This may deprive one the opportunity of being promoted; the superior will look at that person and see a failure. It is therefore important to keep time and accomplish the task given as this ranks someone enabling him to be a good candidate of any opportunity of promotion that may come up. Finally, in order to be a successful soldier one needs to be in the right place, at the right time, doing the right thing and wearing the right uniform. In doing so, one earns reputation that may help him in difficult moment. Moreover, by doing all the task assigned to someone, the person builds up a portfolio that will enables them get assistance when they need it. Time factor is an important aspect in the army. Being on time in the army involves following of proper orders and being at the correct place of duty at a given time. This brings accountability in a person in the army. Being on time also will give chance for formation and claim chain of command. Actions that prevents keeping of time are irresponsibility, laziness and qualities that are not of a leader (Atkinson, 35). Time in the army is important for accountability such that one should be in place of duty some minutes before the actual reaches. When one is punctual in the place of duty, it shows responsibility, trustworthy and that one can be able to follow directions that are given. These qualities are important in the army as they are much considered in the rise in leadership. Punctuality is a value that is not only needed in the army but it also shows that one has good personal traits. It also shows that one is integral and has self-discipline. In the discipline structure of the army, there is always no always toleration of error. The circumstance that leads to lack of keeping of time comes with consequences. There is a direct relation that exists between punctuality, military discipline and the appearance in the army. All this combination defines the readiness that is in a unit of army. Time is a basic factor and without it, there is no probability of completing the daily task that are there in hand. When an army solder is not able to complete efficiently the task that are assigned, this gives chance for attack by the enemy. In the army, every action that is taken has consequences most so when one is dealing with an enemy. In the setting, no matter how there are excuses, there are none when dealing with an enemy as it is all about life. When one is late there is risking of life of others and noncommissioned officers making them down (Atkinson, 98). In the army, there is no dependent on others to wake one up and it is the responsibility of one to wake up early and be on time. One fixes the messes that are made by himself in the army but with observation of time, there is little possibility of messing things up in the sector. One learns from mistakes that are committed and an army should try the best not to repeat the mistakes that occur. Passing of information in army is based majorly on time. When one do not observe this, there is the risk of failing to know things that are crucial. In an instance where information is on a mission is passed and one does not get that, the person might show up late in the mission. This puts the life of other unit members in danger. When one is told to report for a duty and shows up late, the military member is considered to shoe irresponsibility as it looks like the person do not care (Atkinson, 143). When going for a mission and one is late, it makes all the others to wait and this makes everybody to run behind time that was scheduled. When there is running behind schedule, there is ending up in staying late i9n a mission than the time that was allocated. In the army, the soldiers also just like anyone have free time to spend with family and friends. They also take part in other activities such as sport and doing their hobbies. In balancing the activities with their work, time is a major element as a mission able to occur at any time. Army soldiers are always involved in activities that strengthen their mental and physical health through undergoing training. Time allocation for each activity makes it important such that they are able to take other activities out of the cores. Time management in the army allows planning of work schedules and assigning of duties. This leads to maintenance of those that are in the army and adequate response to the workload that always fluctuate. Responsibility and self-discipline that comes due to time management is important in collaboration with the head in the army top ranks in solving issues that affect the activities that are carried out by the army. There is reviewing of work throughout the process where work is done and completed to ensure that the work is well done and transmit the work orders that are given to the others. Being on time is an important factor in the army as it can lead to several consequences including disciplinary actions, loosing ones job, unprofessionalism and failing others with whom they work with. Being late does not only cause employment problems to an individual but also to the other members of the army. It also shows that one is not professional. This makes the others think that one is not serious about being in the army and this also can make them feel that one is not needed in the forces leading to loosing of the job. The loss of the job can also be caused by the strain in the work and the missions that are planned in the army sector. When one does not show up in time, the people that they were to go to the mission with will be forced to carry out their duties as well as for the person who comes late. This becomes unfair to the group that one was working with. When one is told to report for a duty and shows up late, the military member is considered to shoe irresponsibility as it looks like the person do not care. When going for a mission and one is late, it makes all the others to wait and this makes everybody to run behind time that was scheduled. Irresponsibility makes one not to be trusted by any work and these become constraints to factors such as promotion to a higher rank. Works Cited Akin, David S. Real Time Decision Alert, Aid and after Action Review System for Combat and Training. Orlando, Fla.: Simulator Systems Research Unit, U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences, 2005. Print. Atkinson, Rick. An Army At Dawn. New York: Henry Holt & Co., 2002. Print Read More