One cadet

[C/Spider]

Hi, I'm a department head within my school's unit and while i Do not hold any chain of command precedence, other than in dealings with uniforms, i have come to know many of my Unit's NS1s being that i try to help each on of them prepare for Uniform inspection and to help keep a high standard of uniform appearance within the Unit. One of the cadets i have grown to know has a wealth of potential but he lacks some of the most important traits to an individual, respect for superiors, the cadet even went as far as to telling our Units XO , who is known for his extensive pride for our individuals in the armed services, that he thinks veterans are useless and that veterans day is a waste of time. while my fellow staff members have given up on this cadet i still see his potential and would like to help him learn respect for authority and appreciation for our nations veterans. Does any one have any advice for what to do or at least how to handle this cadet with his very unorthodox and uneducated opinions

[TruBlu]

You said "uneducated opinions." Educate him! That's how you are going to change him, by making him aware. Make sure he knows that the program he is in is built upon the premise of veterans teaching students as cadets. Remind him of all the wars fought so he could believe something and not be strung up on a pole for saying them.

Respect for authority is a process (in his mind) were an individual has to gain his respect and then keep that respect by appeasing him. That's what it sounds like to me. Inform him that this is not such the case. If he wants respect, he has to show it to others. The policy that he should be following is this: Respect yourself and everyone else. People can loose your respect, with good reasoning, but people can loose respect for you, with good reasoning. But, if you respect yourself and everyone else, all will be well.

If all else fails, tell him that if he doesn't meet the standards and stop acting like a jackass he's going to find himself in a world of hurt with no aid. He respects and looks up to you I guess right? Tell him that you will turn your back on him and leave him to his own demise if he doesn't straiten up. Harsh, but you have to do whatever works...

[C/Spider]

I will try to educate him as u suggested but I don't think that threating him will work because while I believe he does respect me I think he has created in his head a vendetta with the unit and all that try to fix him and will I hope educating him will work I'm worried that it has gone from a class he does not wan't to be in to class he absolutely hates and will try to harm as best he can and will I know that his efforts will be frivolous he might end up causing him self to get hurt. It took a lot from me not to hit him when he insulted veterans. Thank you for your help

[TruBlu]

As payment for my advice, I only ask to keep informed as to the situation and how it turns out in the end. Best of luck.

[mrkltmn]

I think it's commendable that you haven't given up on this kid. That shows signs that you are a real leader, and you should take your fellow staff members to the side and explain to them TACTFULLY that they can't abandon someone they want to lead, and more importantly they can't give up on one of their shipmates. In the end, as leaders, you all are responsible for what happens or fails to happen under your command.

But past the preaching about that. I can garuntee that in a lot of ways his resistance to this is more that he's trying to stay an individual in an organization that doesn't like individuals. He sees that everyone else in the group loves Veterans so he hates them. He sees that everyone else in the group loves vanilla ice cream he hates it. He sees y'all get a High 'n Tight and he gets a mohawk. That sort of thing. What you need to teach him is a love for what the Navy stands for, not necessarily a love for the Navy. If you teach him to love the Constitution, and what that stands for, to love looking out for his shipmates, and all that that entails, and to love his own honor, then the love of the Navy will follow.

Tactfully try to find out about his home life. If it's not the greatest that might be a part of his resistance to you as well.

There are a milion reasons why he is resisting you but the important thing is don't give up on him. The most important part of leadership is a philial (The Greek word for Brotherly) love for your men, look out for them, take care of them, in the end love them, and they will perform, and you will be true leader.