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Disobeying Orders Essay Format

The importance of following orders and the emphasis of how it applies to unit structure including the specialty of a soldier

On Wednesday, 28 February 2015, I was given instructions and failed to do so by taking initiative and went to talk to my Platoon Sergeant SFC Taylor. I understand my mistakes and what they can cause that is why I am writing this essay about the importance of following order, with emphasis on how it applies to our unit and our specialty. Failing to follow instructions, no matter who delivers them or how trivial they may be considered to be, to anyone, is a serious offense and I understand that it will not be tolerated. My actions and example have a negative effect on unit morale and discipline and threaten the team’s cohesiveness and strength. Failing to follow instructions is the same as disobeying a lawful order. Failure to follow orders is a Violation of Article 92 (failure to obey order or regulation) of the UCMJ. As you can see following orders is a very important and vital task which everyone is expected to obey and follow.

In the paragraphs to come I will go in depth on the importance of following orders in the armed forces in a time of war. Following orders is of the utmost importance in the military. Obedience is what enables the military to operate in an organized and effective manner which is clearly very important during challenging military situations. While an individual can question the notion of obedience in daily life, this luxury is often not available in the military where the grand goals and aims require smooth internal functioning and hierarchical coordination. Indeed, many of the standards that would be frowned upon outside the military are essential to the work’s success within. For example, punishment is not deemed to be a positive occurrence in an average person’s life, whereas the military guide maintains that punishment strengthens one’s determination and discipline and enables a person to learn and fully take the importance of following orders in.

Not following orders is not an optional choice that recruits can make upon joining the army. The act of disobedience is considered to be an infractions and a person who placed himself in such a situation can find himself facing Article 15 charges. Thus, respect and obedience is of the utmost significance in the military as it helps maintain the internal structure and enables the military therefore to carry out its operations in confidence. The importance of orders to the military become clearer when it is taken into account that Article 15 punishments are administered without a jury or judge. The military recognizes that respect for authority is what maintains order and prevents the eruption of chaos and is hence willing to set an example for all who might be tempted to oppose their leaders, by administering these punishments first hand without any judicial representatives. Furthermore, article 90 makes it clearly illegal to disobey an order by a military officer.

The extent to which obedience is safeguarded through strict laws and intolerance of disobedience or disrespectful behavior plays a big role in the United States Military. Here are examples of the importance of following order and the emphasis of how it applies to our or any unit in the United States Military and our specialty as soldiers, marines, air force and navy. Imagine being in an authoritative position such as a NCO (Non Commissioned Officer) or Commissioned Officer in a war time or peace time in garrison. Sounds cool right? Now imagine if your subordinates didn’t follow the orders you put out to them. You just imagined chaos or worse right? In my opinion and experience I have had during the 2 years I have served in the army there is no limit to the chaos that could happen if just one soldier didn’t follow the orders given to him/her. It doesn’t matter what the rank of the soldier is. Following orders in the armed services is a very important and vital task especially in a time of war but also peace time.

Following orders is necessary for everyone to follow in the armed forces; it affects the team, as well as reflecting your respect for your supervisor, and obviously how many of your team members come home alive and well. Now who in the armed forces does following orders apply to? Well if I’m not mistaken everyone in armed services has to follow the orders and directions given to them. Unless you’re the Commander in Chief, then you can make the orders. This brings us back to the chaotic vision we imagined earlier. So whether you’re in a position of authority or the on the receiving end of the given order it’s very important to follow orders. It’s an essential part of working as a soldier, marine, sailor or airman in the armed forces. It’s necessary around the world regardless of your station, chain of command and type of armed service you’re employed with whether its Army, Navy, Marines, or Air force. Following orders is a big part of being in the military and the time we spend in our home country following orders prepares us for war. However it also prepares us and also plays a big role and importance for Jobs outside the military.

Orders come from a chain of command which, for NCO’s and junior enlisted, is the NCO support channel. The NCO support channel is designed to be subordinate to and supportive of the chain of command. The NCO support channel is not an independent channel. It is mandatory of the users of this channel to ensure that the chain of command is kept informed of actions implemented through the NCO support channel and to eliminate the possibility of the NCO support channel operating outside of command policy. The NCO support channel is used for executing the commander’s orders and getting routine, but important, jobs done. It is used however most often to effect policies and procedures and to enforce standards of performance, training, appearance and conduct. Although the first sergeant is not part of the formal chain of command, leaders should consult them on individual soldier’s matters.

There are many areas in which the NCO Support Channel assists the chain of command. The NCO support channel ensures junior enlisted maintain a professional appearance. They plan and conduct day to day operations, train soldiers in their respective MOS and help them build a better knowledge of soldiering. An order is a tasking given to a soldier of something that needs to be done in a timely and efficient manner. The three main reasons why it is important for a soldier to follow the orders they are given is to be combat effective, disciplined, and to just be a well rounded soldier. When a soldier doesn’t follow the orders they are given in not only hurts them, but it hurts the team, unit cohesion and the goals of the mission. When I was given instructions on Wednesday I have violated the second out of the three General Orders of the United States Military. The second General order states that I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner. Which means a soldier must perform all his tasks and orders including instructions in a military manner. Military manner means he must perform his duties correctly as instructed on time and he or she must abide by the military standards and regulations.

It is very important that a soldier abides by these orders. It is what we go by in a day to day basis from the day we enlist in the United States Army, or other Branches, until our enlistment comes to an ended. Until then it is not an option to disobey an order or violate our General Orders unless they were given unclear or they are illegal, immoral or unethical. Orders are meant to be obeyed both explicitly and implicitly. There can be and should be no deviation from the prescribed order. In peacetime or during times of war we as soldiers do not have either the option or the privilege to take the orders issued to us into our own hands. The only time this is permissible is during a time of absence of orders. However, even during these rare instances the soldier is still held accountable for his individual conduct under the Uniform Code of Military Justice and during times of wrongful imprisonment or as a POW under the Code of Conduct. Orders were not meant to be broken; they are given for the soldier’s protection and proper guidance.

Why it is important to respect a Non Commissioned Officer in the United States Army and the possible consequences and punishments that may be given. It is important to respect a non commissioned officer in order to keep the balance in the work place. Even if it’s not deserved or given back to you, it’s still the rules of the military to show them the proper respects. Not showing them respect will result in getting yourself in unnecessary trouble that will make yourself look bad in front of your other superiors. Consequences will be given out to whoever disrespects or does not properly listen to a non commissioned officer. These consequences must be obeyed and respected just as much as the non commissioned officer. Further punishments will be given out to you if these are not followed to every specific detail. Some people say that you should give respect to everyone. Other people say that respect should be earned. I think that respect is a two way street.

To get respect you have to give respect. Respect is neither a right nor a privilege. It is something that you earn over time through your actions. Though in the army it is expected of all lower enlisted to respect in what i would call the new definition of the word with is a type of fear that is implanted into the new soldiers. Earned respect builds a stronger relationship between people, can be more specific then demanded respect, and is more stable than demanded respect. Also, true respect must be built on experience, and therefore it is not right to just demand it. Earned respect builds relationship between people. When another person earns your respect you work harder to have that same respect returned to you. I think that respect is taught by example, as most good things are. The main thing is to treat other people how you would like to be treated and treat them how they treat you.

Most people, when treated decently will treat others the same way.Obeying an NCO is important and what obeying someone means in my own words is to comply with or achieve the “objective” regardless of it being restrictions or merely the instructions of that specific person. The reason is so important to follow a order from a NCO is because they are trying to benefit your carrier to build you up into a better solider and as a lower enlisted it is my or any other lower enlisted soldiers duty to do what is told or asked of them by a NCO. Doing what is told is expected and is part of the job not only in the US army but also in any other branch of military service. For someone to not follow an order can lead to big mistakes in a person military career and in the US army it is a must that you follow any orders from your higher enlisted or officers. Not following orders could lead to a lack of trust from your fellow NCO’s and from your fellow soldiers regardless if they are in your squad, platoon, brigade ect.

When one enlists in the United States military regardless of active duty or reserve they take the following oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Unite States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to all the same and that I will obey the orders of the President of the Unite States and the orders of the officers appointed over me according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Military members who fail to obey the lawful orders of their superiors risk serious consequences. Article 90 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice makes it a crime for a military member to willfully disobey a superior commissioned officer. Article 91 makes it a crime to willfully disobey a superior Noncommissioned or warrant Officer. Article 92 makes it a crime to disobey any lawful order and the disobedience does not have to be willful under this article.

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When one seeks to explain something, first they must define what they are explaining. In the case of a document or other media, the definition is usually the thing itself. But, sometimes, the 'by the book' definition doesn't do a thing full justice. So, in order to insure full justice, as far as the author is able to provide it, UCMJ Article 92 is defined as the following:

Any person serving in the Armed Forces of America, is guilty of violating this article if they, through any means that can be prevented, disobey any order given by a superior, as long as that order is not itself illegal.

Let us break that down into more easily-digested terms.

Any person in the Armed Forces. That means, anyone who is currently (currently being at the time of the infraction) serving in any component of the Armed Forces. That means active duty, ready reserve, inactive reserve, training, DEP, shipboard, shore, infantry, deployed, on notification for deployment, or even when attached to a civilian job and not wearing a uniform. Any person who fits those critera is eligible, regardless of rank, duties, time in the service, time remaining until retirement, or history of conduct (either good or bad).

-Through any means that can be prevented. If the servicemember has any reasonable way to prevent the disobeyal of that order, and failed to, they are guilty. Unpreventable lapses are generally excusable, unless the reason it was unpreventable was the fault of the servicemember. Example: Order is given to belay a line and you go to your bunk instead: Culpable. Order is given to belay a line and the pylon breaks: Not culpable, unless something you did led to the pylon breaking.

-As long as the order itself is not illegal. Any order that, if carried out, would result in a disobeyal of any of the other UCMJ articles, is illegal. Any order that the superior does not have the authority to give, is illegal. Example: Telling a servicemember to commit hazing: illegal. Telling a servicemember to go to another command, when that superior giving the order is not in authority to send servicemember: illegal.

Article 92 is perhaps the most important article in the entirety of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. It lays down the ground law, the absolute line which may not be crossed. Everything else in the UCMJ is explanation of the various forms that disobeying an order can take. Without the support given by Article 92, servicemembers would be free to do whatever they want, whenever they want, and wouldn't be any more accountable than a civilian court. And the Judicial system in this country has been, sadly, much perverted from the goals it was created with.

However, military members are held to a higher standard. We are the line that protects this country, we are the defense against the storm. Without us, this country would not exist, could not exist. And for that, we must be strong, unified, and together. One voice, crying out against the enemy. One team, fighting to keep our countrymen's dreams untroubled. And if one person is disenting against that, it undermines the entire system. If the captain of a ship can't count on his orders being obeyed, without question, right away and to the best ability of the servicemember who is given them, then he might as well be sitting out there by himself, shooting his sidearm at the enemy.


That is why Article 92, and the entire UCMJ, are necessary. They reinforce the behavior of those who do the right thing, promoting it and praising it. They punish those who do not do the right thing, undercutting and stamping out such behaviors. With such a system, the bad eggs, those who are unable to fit into the machine, will be ground up by it and spit out. Broken, incomplete, forever bemoaning the lack of foresight and flexibility that would have saved them.

When we all work together, we are the most powerful fighting force the world has ever known.
When we do not, we are no more powerful than the least cohesive among us.

Which would you rather be a part of?