The Power of "No"

Why do certain people reflexively say "no?"

"No" is a powerful word. It can stop an idea in its tracks, or take all the wind out of someone's sails.

It is also a much easier word to say than "yes."

Some people are gatekeepers. They have to say "no," and it can be hard. For such as these-- others rely on their ability to mean what they say. They protect people.

But too many people fancy themselves as gatekeepers when they are not. The Army has an overabundance of this type of naysayer. He feels he is doing a great service when he shuts someone down. He also ends his involvement in the process. If he says "yes," maybe", or "let's see how we can get it done," he invites more work. The man who says no too often is a lazy man.

Yet, shouldn't we be in the business of proactively solving problems? In such a world, shouldn't we facilitate instead of guard the gates? It takes more courage, creativity, and work to say "yes."

If the Army wants to be more successful in the future, it needs to teach people the power of "yes."

And soon.

Rank is Everything

Rank is everything in the Army.

No matter how bad an idea is, rank determines its value.

No matter how rude somebody gets, their rank decides if it is proper.

There is no such thing as collaboration in the Army, because there is always a boss who has grown up in the Army system learning that stripes equal power. Authority too infrequently comes from time in service instead of wisdom or leadership. Thus, when it comes time to think through a problem systematically, the Soldier with the most rank can stop the process in its tracks the moment it gets too uncomfortable for him.

Discomfort is often a byproduct of a wonderfully constructive progression of idea development. Solutions are born from a sometimes painful introspection that requires criticism.

In the Army, criticism in anathema.

I walked past a Staff Sergeant, whom I knew, this morning. She was utterly rude. Though clearly having a bad morning, her comportment was disrespectful. People are entitled to bad days, but if the tables were turned and someone of lower rank committed the same social disgrace, he would suffer consequences. It is a “no go” to forego a polite greeting to someone of higher rank.

Army instructors fall into the rank trap. When delivering instruction, high-ranking people expect complete attention and respect during a class. When they have to present to officers who outrank them, or even peers, they can’t gain students’ attention with charisma or effective teaching tactics, because the social structure has never forced that skills upon them.

Blind obedience to rank is critical in battle, no doubt, but the modern Army does so much that is not combat related, that a change in culture may be due.
It will never happen until a general says so.

Too Big for its Own Good

Like a bridge that collapses under its own weight, the United States Army is becoming too big; too heavy; to encumbered with its structure—regulations, rules, forms, and all the other trappings of a behemoth bureaucracy.

The Armed Forces of the United States of America is powerful enough to crush anything foolish enough to stand in its way, to be sure. But that reality is probably more a function of economic might than anything else.

The U.S. spends billions each year on the Army. Nobody can compete with that, and certainly nobody can argue that it does not do many things very well.

It scares people. It can occupy territories. It’s soldiers can provide security for nations to rebuild.

But as it gets more powerful, it relies on too much of that power to accomplish its mission. Far from a nimble fighting force, the U.S. Army has become a monster that may soon not be able to function in its own morass of density.

Specialist Stowell, Combat Correspondent

I am a 46 Romeo.

In Army-speak, that means I am trained to gather and produce Army video news packages. We use the term "news" very loosely in the Army.

I am currently on deployment with KFOR 11, the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

These are a few of my thoughts in the world of Army Public Affairs.