Discipline vs. punishment: balance between the two Published July 14, 2011 By Master Sgt. Daniel B. Babcock 87th Communications Squadro JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- I received my first letter of counseling when I was late reporting for duty in 1996. It wasn't the first time, but it was my first LOC. After the counseling session, I signed my name on the paperwork and left my supervisor's office. I wanted to hide from everyone I worked with. I felt like I failed everyone, including myself. I wondered what else my coworkers must think of me: "He can't even make it in to work on time." I was late a few more times over the next few weeks, and then I received of letter of reprimand and experienced the same feelings. Each time I was counseled, I wanted to hide and erase that day. I was not productive until the following duty day when I reported to duty on time, trying to erase my earlier transgression. A month ago, I issued an LOC to an Airman for not meeting standards. I was angry and upset with him for letting his standards slip. During our counseling session, I tried to mentor him and explain why we have standards and why he should not let them slip. I also made myself available to him should he need to talk about standards and other issues in the future. After the counseling session, the weight was lifted and I was no longer upset with him; I said my piece. But the airman lay low, trying to stay out of everyone's way. He even went to our unit deployment manager to volunteer for a deployment. It took him until the following day to become productive and refocus on work. I used to think receiving the LOC or LOR paperwork was a punishment. It wasn't until I was tasked as the additional duty first sergeant for my squadron that I fully understood the progression of discipline. Although closely related, discipline does not lead to punishment. Punishment is a result of a lack of discipline. The LOC and LOR I received for being late was not a punishment; no one took anything from me, such as pay, or gave me anything like extra duty. The LOC and LOR are tools to document lapses in discipline. If you lack discipline enough, the commander can then punish you using the Article 15 process and take something from you such as a stripe, pay and allowances or give you something like extra duty. Only the commander can punish. Supervisors can only document the lack of discipline and recommend punishment to the commander. My message to Airmen is when you get in trouble, you usually know you did something wrong. It is likely not the first time. Learn from it, incorporate it and move on. If you feel bad, address your co-workers and acknowledge you messed up; they will respect you for it. We all have bad days, but we need to learn from our mistakes. Your supervisors do not enjoy giving out LOCs and LORs - it creates more work for them. The more you get in trouble, the more paperwork they have to do. But, after they issue you the paperwork, in most cases, the supervisor is no longer upset. There are exceptions, but most supervisors release the emotions after they have said their piece. My message to supervisors is if your Airmen are not meeting standards, hold them accountable. Do not continually issue LOC after LOC - use progressive discipline. If they are not meant for military service, it is up to you and your chain of command to do the paperwork to help them into their new career path. We have too high of an operations tempo to carry the dead weight and we are only as strong as our weakest link. We have standards for a reason. If your Airmen don't meet them, hold them accountable. Document their lapse in discipline so the commander can punish them if they do not correct their ways. No one likes to enforce discipline through paperwork, but with the correct amount of mentoring, caring and expectations, discipline can be easy and punishment not required.