Comments on: Sloppy or squared away? http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/06/05/sloppy-or-squared-away/ Fri, 25 May 2012 11:26:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rich http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/06/05/sloppy-or-squared-away/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Rich Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:43:53 +0000 http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=269#comment-25 Being an ex-sailor, I have mixed feelings. Not everyone who opts for a presumed career in the military has an understanding of all that it involves. I would assume that the expectations regarding bearing, appearance and fitness are addressed from the early beginnings in boot camp. I know for me - I took everything to heart and did my best to make sure that I followed the regs, be it haircuts, shaves, pressed uniform etc.... Maybe the Navy has changed since my time years ago, but I can say this - if I saw a sailor today who didn't look "squared away", I would find it hard to NOT say something to that person about their appearance. Those early lessons I learned about self-discipline and attention to detail are still with me today. I still iron my clothes for work (every morning), I still keep my hair short and the shaves....well, lets just say that I take some liberties there. People who don't seem to keep with the new/old expectations should ask themselves about their chosen career. The military/govt is not a difficult company to work for, but like any other company - they have expectations that they expect to be followed. It's not for everyone, but working in the private sector is not that different. Anyway...that's my opinion. Being an ex-sailor, I have mixed feelings. Not everyone who opts for a presumed career in the military has an understanding of all that it involves. I would assume that the expectations regarding bearing, appearance and fitness are addressed from the early beginnings in boot camp.

I know for me – I took everything to heart and did my best to make sure that I followed the regs, be it haircuts, shaves, pressed uniform etc…. Maybe the Navy has changed since my time years ago, but I can say this – if I saw a sailor today who didn’t look “squared away”, I would find it hard to NOT say something to that person about their appearance. Those early lessons I learned about self-discipline and attention to detail are still with me today. I still iron my clothes for work (every morning), I still keep my hair short and the shaves….well, lets just say that I take some liberties there.

People who don’t seem to keep with the new/old expectations should ask themselves about their chosen career. The military/govt is not a difficult company to work for, but like any other company – they have expectations that they expect to be followed. It’s not for everyone, but working in the private sector is not that different.

Anyway…that’s my opinion.

]]> By: Ted http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/2009/06/05/sloppy-or-squared-away/comment-page-1/#comment-17 Ted Mon, 08 Jun 2009 21:30:05 +0000 http://militarytimes.com/blogs/scoopdeck/?p=269#comment-17 Some people don't wear the uniform well, but they are also fine sailors. Is my military bearing any worse if I forget to say "aye, aye sir" rather than "sure, no problem" when I am responding to an informal request in an informal situation? Would I be any less of a sailor if I had not had a haircut in 3 weeks rather than every 2 weeks, like it has been suggested to me? What if I had just worked 240 hours in the past 3 weeks and was an integral part for getting my unit ready to deploy? What then? The ENS walking through the NEX that stops me, after I just killed myself for the past three weeks, would be technically correct in suggesting that I stop by the barber shop, but I would still want to spit on him rather than thank him. Everything is not cut and dry, there are shades of grey. There is a standard, but what effect is their on the system as a whole if the standard is not met 100%? If compliance is low and everyone you see is a dirtbag, then I would guess there is a problem of a larger issue which would no doubt have a greater impact on other organizational systems that are of a much greater importance to achieving our organizational goals. Some people don’t wear the uniform well, but they are also fine sailors. Is my military bearing any worse if I forget to say “aye, aye sir” rather than “sure, no problem” when I am responding to an informal request in an informal situation? Would I be any less of a sailor if I had not had a haircut in 3 weeks rather than every 2 weeks, like it has been suggested to me?

What if I had just worked 240 hours in the past 3 weeks and was an integral part for getting my unit ready to deploy? What then? The ENS walking through the NEX that stops me, after I just killed myself for the past three weeks, would be technically correct in suggesting that I stop by the barber shop, but I would still want to spit on him rather than thank him.

Everything is not cut and dry, there are shades of grey. There is a standard, but what effect is their on the system as a whole if the standard is not met 100%? If compliance is low and everyone you see is a dirtbag, then I would guess there is a problem of a larger issue which would no doubt have a greater impact on other organizational systems that are of a much greater importance to achieving our organizational goals.

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