Introduction
The feeling of remorse that is bestowed upon a soldier during the playing of the Taps is derived from nothing other than respect for each other. Although in the army most occasions end with sad events, most feel a sense of respect for the fallen soldier who pays the ultimate sacrifice for the country.
Most of the military customs and traditions are not held to this regard. However, we need to uphold our traditions and customs so that we do not lose the sense of pride and duty. This paper seeks to discuss the importance of respect in the military.
Importance of respect
Being a soldier in the army means understanding the Seven Core Army Values and living up to them. Some of these include respect, loyalty and honor. Having respect means treating someone as he or she should be treated.
The people in the army are expected to treat each other with respect. They do this since they also expect others to do the same. Another ingredient for respect is self-respect. You cannot respect another if you do not respect yourself. This allows someone to put forth his or her best effort since the Army is a team and each member contributes to the greater goal.
Respecting your fellow soldier means protecting him in all situations, covering his backside when required and clearing the path in order for him to complete the mission. This is because when that person completes the task, it equally means that you have completed yours. Therefore, respect in the army ensures that the jobs of both the seniors and the subordinates are done.
Lack of respect in the Army may hinder development of effective leaders. This is usually accompanied with the lack of proper communication. Disrespect is observed when the seniors in the Army (such as the NCOs) fail to do what they were tasked to do and force other (subordinate) officers to micromanage tasks.
This is where seniors loose the trust of the subordinates. The best way to maintain relationships and respect in the Army is to focus on your task and maintain communication in all situations. This way there would be mutual respect and friendships that last for a lifetime would be fostered.
Another reason why respect in the military is important is that it would ensure that the juniors (subordinates) are informed about the missions and its activities. This would empower them with responsibilities and show them that they are equally important to the team.
Respect is also important because it instills confidence that the mission would be successful. This is especially the case when there is the respect of the soldiers of all ranks. The soldiers need to respect their peers, subordinates and seniors.
This would require one to listen and pay soldiers the proper courtesy. This should be the case even when one does not like the other for any particular reason or the mission as a whole. This would ensure that the tasks are done and missions completed successfully.
Conclusion
The seven Code Army Values govern the soldiers in the Army. Respect is one of the values and it is important since it ensures harmony within the Army. Respecting the peers, subordinates and seniors is important to ensure that the work is done and that missions are completed successfully. Without respect in the army, there would not be any success.