Op-Ed: McChrystal, Loyalty and Morale

There are nearly 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan who are caught in a controversial war. How do you serve if your morale is broken?

There are nearly 100,000 U.S. troops in Afghanistan who are caught in a controversial war. They are serving in a country full of people who support them as well as people who want them dead. They know their mission is a long one. Success can bring peace to the Middle East. Failure allows U.S. aggressors a chance to strike again. So how do you stay focused when your top leader openly criticizes the Commander in Chief? And that’s the heart of the issue surrounding the McChrystal controversy. General Stanley McChrystal was relieved of his Afghanistan command today for allowing and making critical remarks towards President Obama’s handling of the war as well as Vice President Biden. His successor, General David Petraeus, is in command effective immediately. Per the Uniform Code of Military Justice Article 88, commissioned officers are not allowed to openly criticize or demean White House leaders. The intent is to maintain good order and discipline among the troops. When you don’t have good order and discipline, you can lose morale in what seems like an endless war. Speaking as a former military member, I understand how a leader’s statements and actions can positively or negatively influence a soldier’s attitude. But morale goes beyond the soldier. It extends to the family members who see their spouses, sons and daughters serving abroad in a dangerous location. It also extends to Americans, who know the intent is good but can also see and feel worldwide pressure. Morale helps soldiers know that their sacrifices are worth the effort. Leadership and morale also extends to the civilian world. According to the Harvard Business Review article Building Morale When Times Are Bad[/i] by Goizueta Business School of Emory University instructor Kevin Coyne, a leader’s job is to build team’s focus can dedication.

Morale is also boosted by loyalty. Every soldier relies on each other to have each other’s backs whether in war or peacetime. This goes beyond the boots on the ground. It extends up and down the chain of command.

President Obama acknowledged how McChrystal’s critical comments affected all these aspects.

“I don’t think we can sustain our unity of efforts without making this change”, he remarked. “Now is the time to come together. I welcome debate among my team, but not division….we have to renew our sense of confidence to one another and to our troops who are in harm’s way.”

Hopefully this leadership change and controversy does not have too large of a negative impact among our soldiers.