Understanding Loyalty and Its Impact on Character in Military Training, Summaries of Military Strategy and Training

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CH 4-3 Character and Loyalty

(formerly LTP E 4- It’s a Wonderful Life in the Barracks)

1

Training Objective

• Task: Understand the connection between character and loyalty
• Condition: Given a 50-minute classroom training session and various role-playing scenarios
• Standard: As part of group exercises, demonstrate awareness of how loyalty both reinforces and challenges character, and develop the skills necessary to make decisions consistent with The Citadel’s core values in such situations

2

Divided or Mixed Loyalty

• Definitions of divided or mixed loyalty include: - a feeling of strong support for opposing groups, ideals, etc. - a feeling of wanting to be loyal to two people or groups that oppose each other
• What are circumstances under which a knob might feel divided or mixed loyalty?
• How do you resolve divided or mixed loyalties?

Scenario

• The knobs in each company have decorated their company areas for Christmas. A popular cadre upperclassman tells you when he was a knob, he and his classmates raided the other companies after taps and took down their decorations. He says you’re not supposed to do that-- as a matter of fact the BN TAC has specifically prohibited it-- but he says it’s a company tradition and a great bonding experience as a class. He doesn’t order you to do it, but he says it would be “very cool” if you took charge and organized your classmates to go on a raid tonight.
• What divided or mixed loyalties are involved here?
• Divide up into groups and discuss for five minutes. Appoint a spokesperson and be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

Sequel 1-

• You and your five classmates decide to go on the raid, and the Night OC catches you. The BN TAC finds out you were the ringleader, and he calls you to his office. He says, “I thought I said no raids. Why’d you blow me off?”
• What do you tell him?
• Return to your groups and assign new cadets to be the spokesperson, timekeeper, devil’s advocate, and role-players as the knob and the BN TAC. Role-play and discuss for five minutes. Be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

Sequel 1-

• You decide not to execute the raid or even discuss it with your classmates. At breakfast formation the next morning, the upperclassman who had made the suggestion asks you, “Why’d you chicken out? No company pride?”
• What do you tell him?
• Return to your groups and assign new cadets to be the spokesperson, timekeeper, devil’s advocate, and role-players as the knob and the upperclassman. Role-play and discuss for five minutes. Be prepared to share your thoughts with the class.

Thinking Ahead

• Peer pressure, rationalization, groupthink, compromise, expediency, wanting to fit in and be liked, divided loyalty….. - Are these challenges unique to knob year or do you expect to have to deal with them in one way or another throughout your life? - What are some non-Citadel examples?
• “Watch your thoughts. They become words. Watch your words. They become deeds. Watch your deeds. They become habits. Watch your habits. They become character. Character is everything.”