Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 April 1914 — Inexperience of Younger Officers Main Cause of Discontent In Army [ARTICLE]

Inexperience of Younger Officers Main Cause of Discontent In Army

By Major General LEONARD WOOD. U. S. N.

MUCH of the discontent among enlisted men of the army is caused by the inexperience of the younger officers as well as bv some others not new in the service, who try to accomplish through public rebuke what could be more effectively accomplished through a private talk witli a subordinate. -••- * * ** * MANY OFFICERS WHO ARE INTRUSTED WITH THE COMMAND OF MEN HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE AND HAVE NOT BEEN SUFFICIENTLY IMBUED WITH THE TREMENDOUS IMPORTANCE OF THEIR DUTIES WHICH CONCERNS THEIR RELATIONS WITH ENLISTED MEN. THEY OFTEN FEEL THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO ADOPT A TONE OF VOICE OR A MANNER IN DEALING WITH THEM WHICH IS QUITE DIFFERENT FROM THAT WHICH THEY USUALLY EMPLOY, AND ONLY TOO FREQUENTLY THEY SEEK TO ACCOMPLISH THROUGH PUBLIC REBUKE WHAT COULD BE MORE EFFICIENTLY ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH A PRIVATE TALK WITH THE SUBORDINATE HIMSELF. * * * 1 his fault is not entirely limited to the officers new in she service, hut is unfortunately lound at times in others of more experience, and it is directed that every effort be made to eradicate it.