Introduction
Attention to detail in the armed forces is much different than it is in the civilian sector. Modern ‘warriors’ are trained to let no detail go unnoticed. A missed detail in the military can cost lives. In the civilian sector, businesses like to hire veterans of military service because they have been drilled in attention to detail. This important military skill is carried over into the civilian sector where veterans often work harder and produce higher quality work. Military service produces warriors who are taught the importance of the details.
Upon initial entry into the military trainees are taught to notice the details. This skill is initially taught by having military recruits clean their living areas and creating an environment where a speck of dust does not go unnoticed. The stories about beds being made so that a quarter can be bounced off of it tell how recruits are taught to focus on the details. This skill is carried over to other areas of training such as weapons maintenance and personal appearance.
Friend or Foe
Something as little as wearing a uniform correctly can mean the difference between life and death for a soldier. If the soldier is separated from his unit his general appearance would be evaluated by friendly forces when this soldier sought to join another unit operating in the same area (halt! Who goes there? Advance to be recognized.) If the uniform is worn incorrectly or the wrong equipment is worn that soldier stands the chance of being identified as ‘enemy’ vs. ‘friendly’. The military does not value those who wear the uniform incorrectly or maintain their appearance below the standards set. These renegades also stand the chance of being misidentified by coalition forces.
Recently, in the news, Prince Harry returned to Great Britain from Afghanistan. American’s who viewed or read about his return noticed that he had a full mop of hair. American’s questioned military standards within the Royal Army:
“photographs of the young royal showed him dressed in desert fatigues with a healthy mop of red hair—an unusual sight for Americans accustomed to military buzz cuts. Don’t British soldiers have to cut their hair, too?” (Wilson, 1)
The answer to this question is that in the Royal Army local commanders can decide how they want their soldiers to wear their hair:
“Unlike American male recruits, for whom the buzz cut is part of the initiation into the service, the British Ministry of Defense leaves coiffure decisions up to individual regiment leaders.”(Wilson, 1)
Something as simple as a haircut can cause a soldier to be misidentified as an ‘enemy’. Soldiers who see duty as part of a multinational force are taught how other countries wear their uniforms and the level of personal care required.
“The differing standards are representative of the British army’s organization, which emphasizes loyalty to one’s regiment in addition to the army as a whole. Unlike the U.S. commanders, whose “Army of one” approach emphasizes uniformity among service members, the Minister of Defense tolerates a little bit of panache.”(Wilson, 1)
Soldiers in the United States are drilled in the proper wear and care of uniforms, equipment, and personal hygiene. All this training is required so that the soldier is easily identified as an American service member.
Survivability
Service members are taught attention to detail to enhance their survivability. For example, those whose job includes packing parachutes are taught by the numbers exactly how to pack parachutes. Any mistake by this specialist could cause the death of an airborne soldier. If the parachute is packed incorrectly it could cause a casualty at altitude or on the ground. Parachute packers are drilled in attention to detail and accuracy.
During the Civil War soldiers appointed as ‘ensigns’ or ‘flag bearers’ were tasked with carrying their flag in battle. Soldiers of both sides followed the ensigns into battle. Disoriented soldiers could look for their flag and reorient themselves. The ensigns were very important during battle. If an ensign ran the wrong way he could lead soldiers in the wrong direction or to their death. Ensigns were often identified as courageous and brave for their attention to detail under fire. And, those who took the flag from a fallen ensign and carried it forward were also honored.
The Services Refocus
The military of the United States has begun to change how they teach recruits to become ‘warriors’. Specifically, this is called the ‘warrior mindset’. In Air Force basic training the focus on maintaining a perfectly folded underwear drawer has been replaced with rolling underwear and socks like the Navy has done for years. The new focus is on developing a ‘warrior mindset’ that includes being issued an M-16 that is identical to the model issued but can’t be fired. The trainees carry their weapons with them wherever they go.
“Refocusing basic military training to more of a “warrior first” mentality means more than an attitude adjustment. It will benefit the Air Force as a whole”. (Romano, 1)
“The changes instill the ‘warrior ethos’ in Airmen,” Tech. Sgt. Tim Bruton, 321st Training Squadron military training instructor said. “Down the road, commanders in the field will see a visible difference in the training and readiness of these Airmen.” (Romano,1)
The M-16 initiative is one change, which goes hand-in-hand with the warrior mentality. Military training instructors have been trained on the M-16 replica and will train recruits once they receive the weapons…(Romano,1)
The Air Force is using the M-16 replica to train airmen sooner on the function of the weapon and in using attention to detail when teaching the teardown and cleaning of the weapon. This attention to detail ensures that the airmen will be able to use and maintain the weapon in a combat environment. Interestingly, the United States Marine Corps has used this method to train Marines for a long time. Those in Marine basic training have been known to sleep with their rifles thus ensuring that the weapon has cared for twenty-four-seven. The Air Force is seeing improvement in readiness of its airmen:
“We are seeing Airmen with a better skill set and capacity to deploy,” Sergeant Allen said. “We are teaching them to roll their T-shirts and underwear, teaching them expeditious, space-saving skills they can use when packing their mobility bags. The way we see it, we are still teaching them attention to detail while teaching them one more warrior skill.”(Romano, 1)
The United States Army has been improving its ‘war fighter’ readiness with the introduction of high-tech equipment that replaces error-prone methods of operation. Specifically, the Army’s forward observers used to spend precious minutes rechecking their information before calling in an artillery strike. Lack of attention to detail could have resulted in accidentally calling in an airstrike on friendly positions. The introduction of high tech equipment to replace the old Army method of calling in an airstrike via radio has improved the process significantly and reduced friendly fire incidents:
“For a warfighter requesting that a round of artillery be fired at an enemy location, there is no margin for error. When one’s attention to detail cannot be compromised, a Soldier’s digital support must be completely unfailing.”(Davidson, 1)
The Army’s use of a military version of the PDA has lessened the amount of time required to call in an airstrike while drastically improving accuracy. Designers of this system knew that timeliness and accuracy (attention to detail) was necessary on the battlefield. The PFED (Pocket Sized Forward Entry Device) is a hand-held forward entry device used by forwarding observers and fire support teams to transmit and receive fire support messages over standard military line-of-sight, high-frequency, and satellite communications radios.” (Davidson, 1)
Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock of the U.S. Marines was one of the most well-known snipers in Vietnam. He attributed his success as a sniper to attention to detail. Alain Burrese, an Army sniper who taught at the 2nd Infantry Division Scout Sniper School at Camp Casey South Korea, attributes his success as an attorney to the attention to detail that was required of him as a sniper. “The sniper who fails to heed this principle (attention to detail) during the war will end up in a body bag. It’s that important!” (Burrese, 1)
One of the most important jobs of soldiers training leaders in the Iraqi Army is attention to detail. U.S. Marine Sgt Major Ralph White commented, while on tour in Iraq, that leaders must pay close attention to the examples they set and make sure that they are upholding standards (such as uniform policies and military courtesies) (Jewell, 1). The professional standards set by American trainers will result in similar professional standards adopted by the Iraqi Forces. It is called leadership by example.
“We can’t be the professional organization we profess to be and not adhere to our own standards,” White said. “No matter how petty the issue, it’s about attention to detail. If you start breaking the rules on the small stuff, you start that slide into the bigger stuff.”(Jewell, 1)
History
In the United States, Military attention to detail began with Baron Von Steuben. Steuben, from Prussia, was a German Army officer tasked with training American troops during the Revolutionary war. His experience as an officer with the Prussian General Staff earned him an introduction to General Washington. Von Steuben traveled to the United States and began training Revolutionary troops. Steuben began with one ‘company’ of soldiers (Historic Valley Forge). With the help of Alexander Hamilton and Nathaniel Greene, he began training the rag-tag Revolutionary Army. Interestingly, Baron Von Steuben did not speak English and yelled at the troops in French and German. Steuben recruited Captain Benjamin Walker to yell for him in English. Steuben’s influence can be found on every basic training base across America with drill sergeants yelling at troops.
Steuben began with a ‘model company’ of 100 men. These men in turn trained units within the Revolutionary Army. Steuben’s first students were mostly the best sergeants within the Army. Steuben, with the help of Capt. Walker, Alexander Hamilton, and Nathaniel Greene drafted a training program that included the School of the Soldier where soldiers began their training with drills and ceremonies. Training moved on to include drills with and without arms. Specific drills were broken down to include counts and motions. For example, loading and firing a weapon was broken down as (Historic Valley Forge):
Fire! One Motion.
Half-Cock — Firelock! One Motion.
Handle — Cartridge! One Motion.
Prime! One Motion.
Shut — Pan! One Motion.
Charge with Cartridge! Two motions.
Draw — Rammer! Two motions.
Ram down — Cartridge! One Motion.
Return — Rammer! Two motions.
Baron Von Steuben gave the Army training in attention to detail that is a hallmark of military drill today. He also created standards for hygiene within campsites to include the placement of tents, kitchens, and latrines. Before Steuben’s influence latrines and kitchens were often collocated without concern(Historic Valley Forge).
Baron Von Steuben was not the only officer to insist on attention to details. General George S. Patton, a graduate of West Point, would not let even a minuscule item be out of order. When he took over 2nd Corps Headquarters he found a unit that lacked leadership and had soldiers who were disheveled and out of uniform. The soldiers of this unit had been defeated at Kasserine Pass in North Africa. Patton turned these men into a world-class fighting force by demanding:
“The enforcement of regulation uniforms, including the wearing of neckties, leggings, and helmets. The objective was to ensure that each time a more solid knotted his tie, put on their leggings, or buckled their helmets; they would be reminded that the days of Kasserine Pass and defeat were over.”(Pouncy, 1)
Patton finished his Army career as recorder of history tasked with documenting World War Two. But, Patton was best known for his attention to detail:
“Patton believed that the lack of discipline for an officer or for an army was equivalent to committing murder. He understood that attention to detail wasn’t just for success; it was for survival. While decisions in the modern business environment might not cost you your life, it could cost you your livelihood.” (Pouncy, 1)
Cadet Programs
Military attention to detail often begins in cadet programs and JROTC programs around the country. Many students that attend these programs either join the military or attend college ROTC programs and ultimately serve as officers in the Armed Forces of the United States. Students that attend Cadet or JROTC programs enter the military more prepared for the training they receive. They have had experience as followers and leaders and are often assigned as squad leaders in basic training.
The United States Air Force supports Civil Air Patrol programs. One Civil Air Patrol program is the Cadet Program. Cadets range in age from 14 to 21 years old and are drilled in attention to detail with a focus on uniforms, appearance, drill and ceremonies, and aircraft and weapons training. Most importantly, cadets are trained as search and rescue teams. In their training for ground search and rescue, the focus is on attention to detail. A detail missed could mean that an aircraft or individual is not found or spends more time awaiting rescue. Successful completion of the Cadet Program is rewarded with rank when Cadets enter the Air Force (often as E-3) (CAPP Protocol Guide).
JROTC programs across the country train youth ages 14 through 21 in military history, drill and ceremonies, and weapons training. Entry into JROTC programs is voluntary and students receive history credits during high school for attending JROTC programs. Like their Civil Air Patrol counterparts, JROTC cadets are drilled in attention to detail. Cadets are rewarded for good performance with rank when they enter the service.
Maintaining Equipment
Anyone who has spent time in the service remembers the hours spent on maintaining their equipment. More often than not equipment had to be cleaned and stored properly before a unit could be released after a training exercise or combat operation. Soldiers are drilled in attention to detail when maintaining equipment. It is well known that equipment properly cared for will function when it is needed. Soldiers learn to care for equipment that could save their lives someday. Many military job descriptions include the phrase “Ability to do work requiring accuracy and attention to detail” as well as “Preference for work requiring attention to detail” (Today’s Military).
As stated earlier, parachute packers’ work can result in either a safe return to the ground for an airman or a casualty at altitude. A recent story in the Minot Air Force Base news tells of the process of packing a ‘chute’. The story called “Attention to detail, teamwork saves lives” tells about how “meticulous inspections and teamwork that will potentially save a life.”(Dow, p1) The inspection process for a parachute system being packed is rigorous and time-consuming but nothing is compromised. Typically it takes about four hours to pack a parachute with survival equipment. Every 180 days a parachute system is unpacked, inspected, and repacked.
Any compromise of attention to detail could cause loss of life. This article also showed the importance of cooperation between shops. The parachute system is part of the ejection seat package. If the ejection seat doesn’t work correctly the parachute system won’t deploy properly and vice versa. Both shops work closely together with a common mission to provide an ejection seat package that is designed to save lives. “When all else fails the aircrew member’s life is in our hands and that’s why working together as a team is so important,” said Master Sgt. Boteler.” (Dow, 2)
Failure Due to Lack of Attention to Details
Constant attention to detail gives the impression of competence. Missing one detail will give the impression of incompetence. When a business, or the military, functions properly there is little to nothing said about them. But, when a business, or the military, makes a mistake they are headlined in the news.
At Fort Bragg, North Carolina, injuries to airborne soldiers mysteriously increased over time. Examination of statistics showed no difference in injury rates between male and female soldiers but did show that more younger soldiers were being injured at altitude. Many of the injuries were sustained during exiting the aircraft. One-third of the injuries were from static lines within the aircraft. The Army studied the problem and concluded that the exit technique was the cause of most injuries at altitude. Younger soldiers had less experience exiting the aircraft and it was assumed that experience was the problem. Another look at patient (airborne soldiers) records showed that:
“Errors in static line management, which occur before leaving the aircraft, account for nearly one-third of all altitude injuries. Improper door clearance, leading to contact with the edge of the door and the side of the aircraft, accounts for one-fifth of these injuries.”(Craig, 4)
Further examination found that exiting technique was the problem:
“The data presented here also suggest that it is not so much the exit procedure as the paratrooper’s exit technique that sets the stage for injury.”(Craig, 4)
This turned out to be a problem of technique and attention to detail. The Army medical community encouraged trainers to focus on exit techniques when training younger soldiers. Specifically, the medical community recommended that ”
“Upon exiting the aircraft, the parachutist’s first point of performance is to assume a tight body position. A tight body position consists of being bent at the waist (the body forming an “L”), feet and knees together, elbows tight against the torso, hands on the ends of the reserve parachute, and chin tucked on the chest”(Craig, 4)
Focus on this position meant that the airborne soldier’s bodies were more apt to fall away from the aircraft and not cause injury to the soldier. The incidence of injury to young soldiers at altitude began to fall. The combination of training, improved equipment, and safety precautions resulted in far fewer injuries. Again, the focus on the correct exiting position resulted in a lower injury rate. This attention to the details of proper exiting techniques contributed to safer airborne operations. (Craig, 5)
Conclusion
Attention to detail is a major part of training and operations within the U.S. Military. In American history, we find that attention to detail was one of the first things taught to the Revolutionary Army under the command of General George Washington. Because the Army consisted of a bunch of men with many different rifle types, uniforms, and levels of personal hygiene General Washington looked for a solution to create a formidable fighting force.
The solution came in the form of Baron Von Steuben, a Prussian military officer who spoke French and German. Despite the language barrier, Steuben molded a ‘model company’ into a fighting force thru drill and attention to detail. Uniforms were standardized as well as weapons. The American Army was trained by the numbers. Miniscule tasks were completed by the numbers. The trained soldiers were sent out to train other units within the Army.
In modern American training in attention to detail begins for many during high school. Many students voluntarily join cadet programs sponsored by the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. These young Americans learn attention to detail in junior reserve officer training corps programs. (JROTC) Many of these young people join the military where they have a head start on their training. They arrive already familiar with drills and ceremonies and learning to do things by the numbers.
Attention to detail is very important when maintaining equipment in the military. This same equipment must perform flawlessly when in combat or service support missions. When a unit is constantly assigned combat missions equipment maintenance becomes increasingly important. For a foot soldier, a dirty weapon could misfire or jam in combat possibly resulting in the death of the soldier. When combat soldiers return from combat missions their weapons are carefully cleaned and maintained.
Many jobs within the military require strict attention to detail. Examples of such jobs include parachute system packers, airborne soldiers, and anyone tasked with maintaining equipment that would be used in combat or in combat service support.
General George S. Patton was known for not allowing even the littlest detail to go uncared for. His attention to detail earned him the job of recording for history the Second World War. Patton also took command of the 2nd Corps and turned a demoralized force into a world-class fighting force. He insisted that his soldier paid attention to every detail especially when it came to wearing the uniform.
All the examples are given here exhibit, in one way or another, the importance of attention to detail. In the business world attention to detail sets businesses apart from one another. Veterans of military service are valued by civilian employers because of their training in attention to detail. Many sought-after veterans work harder, and to a higher level of quality as compared to their civilian counterparts. These traits have been drilled into these veterans and will be a part of these veterans for the rest of their lives.
Works Cited:
Burrese, Alain. 2003. Pay Attention To Detail. Web.
CAPP Protocol Guide. 1990. Guide To Civil Air Patrol Protocol. Web.
Craig, Stephen C. 2000. Attention To Detail: Injuries at altitude among U.S. Army Military static line parachutists. Military Medicine. Web.
Davidson, Joshua. 2007. Smaller, Hand-Held Systems Maintain Warfighters’ Attention to Detail. Army ALT Online Monthly. Web.
Dow, Thomas. 2008. Attention to Detail/Teamwork Saves Lives. Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs. Web.
Historic Valley Forge. Who Served Here? Baron Von Steuben. Web.
Jewell, Lorie. 2005. Sergeant Major Volunteers for Iraq. Web.
Pouncy, Aubey. Leadership Information. Pure Discipline. Web.
Romano, Candace. 2006. Trainees learn attention to detail through ‘warrior’ mindset. 27th Training Wing Public Affairs. Web.
Today’s Military. Weapons Maintenance Technician. Web.
Wilson, Chris. 2008. Why didn’t the British royal have to cut his hair in the army? MSN Slate. Web.