Accession Number:
ADA289122
Title:
The Anatomy of Discipline.
Descriptive Note:
Monograph,
Corporate Author:
ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLL FORT LEAVENWORTH KS SCHOOL OF ADVANCED MIL ITARY STUDIES
Report Date:
1993-12-17
Pagination or Media Count:
115.0
Abstract:
This monograph reviews the functions, development and measurement of military discipline in the US Army, and assesses these concepts against the current needs and limitations of the modern battlefield and society. By relying primarily on existing literature dealing with military history, psychology, morale, leadership, and discipline, it is concluded that the concept of discipline, central to military thought and critique throughout history, is a complex, multifunctional amalgam of psychological and physical components. Military discipline is defined as a set of attributes which can be grouped into two complementary categories, each necessary to enhance a soldiers individual and collective combat effectiveness. The first category, DISCIPLINE Behavior, consists of the externally enforced or learned habitual behavioral responses functions of obedience, synergism, attention to detail, restraint, and stress resistance. The second category, DISCIPLINE Attitude, consists of voluntary, self-sustaining, value-based functions of courage, identification, internalization, and initiative. DisciplineB is clearly necessary for soldiers, and may historically have been sufficient as well. However, DisciplineA is also clearly necessary for US Army soldiers on the modern battlefield. Fortunately, the functions of DisciplineB and DisciplineA are complementary, and not mutually exclusive. The manner in which leaders can develop and maintain each type of discipline is considered. When measuring discipline in soldiers or units, most indicators point toward DisciplineB, since measuring DisciplineA is much more difficult.
Distribution Statement:
APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE
