The Systems That Broke the Army: Decoupling in the Army and the Decline of Ethics in the Military Profession
Abstract
Decoupling is the process through which an organization's day-to-day functions become separated from its compliance mechanisms. In short, it is the creation of a gap between what the organization says it does and what the organization does. This phenomenon is not unknown to people within the Army. What is unknown is that the phenomenon has, not only, a name but carries with it some significant ramifications. In many cases, decoupling is not only required. Still, it can be beneficial toward achieving efficiency within the organization, as some minor rules are ignored, but it can also have other effects on the organization. Decoupling, if left unchecked, can lead to institutionalized misconduct and could damage the trust that the US Army acknowledges is required to perform its function. This monograph seeks to apply academic work from the field of organizational theory and sociology to the context of the US Army and demonstrate the possible consequences and ramifications of decoupling compliance programs from day-to-day activities. Additionally, conclusions may help the US Army improve itself so that it can remain the trusted institution that it has worked so many years to be. The US Army needs to significantly overhaul its mandatory training regulation and readiness reporting systems to ensure that what it is asking its subordinate organizations to achieve is actually in the realm of the possible, and that when it discovers deliberately false or inaccurate reporting to hold those leaders accountable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 21, 2020
- Accession Number
- AD1159112
Entities
People
- William B. Iii Hoelscher
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies