More Nurture Than Nature

Discipline: More Nurture than Nature

We live in a world that is always changing, new ideas challenge the way we think, and new technology makes the world a much smaller place. The Army is a professional force it is our role to adapt to this changing world while we set new standards and maintain our discipline. These new standards reach across the board from fitness training standards to how we training to how we look. While standards are can be more fluid to meet the changes in this dynamic world; discipline is a more static idea. Discipline is behavior in accordance with rules of conduct, i.e. standards. Discipline is self-control and the ability to stay in standards set. Standards may change but at the core discipline never changes, we just need more of it as standards become more restrictive.

We have all come across Soldiers who just seem to have no discipline. We could argue that these Soldiers were just not born with the traits to have discipline. Other would say their parents did not rise them right. Nature versus nurture could be argued but it really is all on the Soldier's personality, which comes from both nature and nurture, and if there is still some flexible that personality. According to some psychological studies personalities tend to lose flexibility around the age of 25. While certain traits and interesting can be changed the overall personality will become fixed. Type A personalities are more driven but if that trait is not foster early own they would not have discipline. An older Soldier who does not meet the standards of discipline is unlikely to change. For Instance, that Soldier is barely passing their APFT, if that Soldier had not someone who was disciplined about working out it is unlikely they will grant self-control in that area. While a Leader could do PRT with the Soldier to get better scores when the Soldier is left on their own they would unlikely have the self discipline to maintain. If a Leader does the same training with a younger Soldier that Soldier would be more inclined to maintain their self control. In simple terms you just can't teach and old dog new tricks. This does not mean that a Soldier does not have any discipline but they don't have the level of discipline that the Army is looking for now. Someone can learn how to improve their discipline or self-control, the keyword being self, but it is not something that really can be taught but nurtured.

After September 11, 2001 the need for troops begun to rise and the standards became a bit more relaxed to allow more people to become Soldiers. Now that the military is drawing down again the standards are returning to what they were before conflict. We have Soldiers out there who are not meeting standards and may never be able to maintain these standards. The world, the Army, and standards will always change but discipline is something that never changes. The Army is not lacking discipline.