Discipline starts with supervisor setting standards

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Anthony Campbell
  • 35th Security Forces Squadron first sergeant
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Your commander calls you on the phone and says he wants to talk to you about Airman Snuffy. Your mind starts racing at 200 miles per hour because you remember last week you had to counsel him on being to work on time. Now what?

As a supervisor in the Air Force, we are required to know, set, exemplify, and enforce the standards. And when necessary discipline those who don't meet them ... you did explain them didn't you? Discipline starts with the supervisor setting and explaining attainable standards to an individual. This means equipping your subordinates with the tools to get the job done to established standards.

If an Airman in the Security Force Squadron is given one hour to do posts checks and does not have a vehicle to drive around the base, that Airman might not meet the standard of one hour, so this standard might not be attainable. However, if that same Airman was told to be into work at 0530 and had the means to do so but failed, the wheels of discipline, progressive discipline, begin.

We start by ensuring the individuals understand the established standards, and if necessary explain it to them again. Given that this was the first time the individual was late to work, a verbal warning might be appropriate. Reiterate the standard and ensure they understand that continued infractions will result in more severe actions. Fork-in-the-road time...if the Airman is never late again, we were successful, if not, we need to move to the next level in the discipline process. Now, it's time to break out the paperwork and document the behavior.

Supervisors have several tools available to ease this process. First there are letters of counseling, admonitions, and reprimands. This is where the immediate supervisor has a direct hand in the discipline process. Next is the Unfavorable Information File (UIF), followed by and or coupled with the Control Roster. At this point the information provided by the supervisor is given to the squadron commander, by the first sergeant, for consideration of placing a member on a UIF or Control Roster.

When members continue to spiral downhill and nothing is working, the next option for the commander is nonjudical punishment in the form of an Article 15. Depending on the offense, the individual's rank, recommendations of supervision, and the grade of the commander, a number of outcomes are possible. The two remaining steps, court martial and separation from service are sometimes the end of the road for our Airmen if immediate supervision fails.

Explain the standards, correct infractions immediately, recognize those who excel, and prepare for the best or worst case. These are some of the keys to being a successful supervisor and minimizing your need to answer the commander about Airman Snuffy.

 Oh, by the way, Airman Snuffy is up for re-enlistment and the commander wants your input on his performance...