Prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the United States entry into World War II, the United States Army conducted large scale maneuvers in Louisiana in September of 1941. Major General Leslie McNair had an instrumental role in this exercise.
In his book Crusade in Europe, Dwight D. Eisenhower wrote, “Many of the military faults revealed in the maneuvers, General McNair believed, had their roots in discipline.” Eisenhower quoted General McNair as saying, “Our troops are capable of the best discipline. If they lack it, leadership is faulty. A commander who cannot develop proper discipline must be replaced.”
Hello! That runs contrary to the soft, lackluster leadership that is prevalent in too many organizations today, including fire departments. Discipline is not a curse word. Discipline is self-control. Discipline is adherence to a strict code of conduct and behavior. Discipline involves accountability. Discipline involves courage.
Discipline is not hiding under your desk for fear that someone will file a hostile work environment grievance. Can that happen? Sure, it can happen. In the Bible, Proverbs 29:25 reads, “The fear of man brings a snare (New King James Version).” How many so-called leaders are caught in the snare of fear and fail to act? Failing to act is failing to lead.
In 1941, General McNair identified lack of discipline as a leadership problem. It was a problem in 1941, and it is a problem in 2026.
What about you? Are you upholding your responsibility as a leader or are you hiding under your desk hoping that all is going well? Hope can be a wonderful thing, but it is not a course of action. Have the courage to maintain discipline throughout your organization or your area of responsibility.
