How to motivate the unmotivated

[Jarnhamar]

This area seems like the right place.
I wanted to throw a question out and see everyone's opinion.

How do you motivate a checked out soldier who doesn't seem to give a shit about training?

Here is the scenario. You're a (reserve infantry) section commander with 11 decent soldiers in your section. All but one of them make an effort to make every training night and all training exercises.
The one soldier who doesn't seem interested in training isn't a slug. He looks like a high speed low drag paratrooper fighting machine in incredible shape. Spends more time at the gym in a day then you do all week. He's smart guy, a quick learner and charismatic.

He doesn't attend Thursday training nights because he has night classes (but you notice he posts on facebook randomly and often while he's at "at school").
He doesn't attend week-end ex's because he's at rock concerts, comedian shows or playing Call of Duty modern warfare 2.

The training at your unit isn't boring or slacking. Live fire jungle lanes. Live fire Section attacks with a C6 shooting over your head. Posting live grenades into bunkers. Soon  firing through a live fie platoon attack with support weapons. Most of the junior leadership and all of the senior leadership have various tours (and the training reflects this).
There's no personality conflicts and your section has the highest morale and highest turn out in the company.

How do you motivate that soldier to get on board?

 

[George Wallace]

It would appear that he really isn't a super soldier, nor is he motivated.  In fact he does have a problem, and you are not likely to fix it.  He has an image problem.  He probably joined for a LCF, and now that he has it, that is all he needs.  Get all your toys back from him.  Make him NES, have him turn in all his kit, and open a position for a person who is more dedicated.

 

[brihard]

This area seems like the right place.
I wanted to throw a question out and see everyone's opinion.

How do you motivate a checked out soldier who doesn't seem to give a crap about training?

Here is the scenario. You're a (reserve infantry) section commander with 11 decent soldiers in your section. All but one of them make an effort to make every training night and all training exercises.
The one soldier who doesn't seem interested in training isn't a slug. He looks like a high speed low drag paratrooper fighting machine in incredible shape. Spends more time at the gym in a day then you do all week. He's smart guy, a quick learner and charismatic.

He doesn't attend Thursday training nights because he has night classes (but you notice he posts on facebook randomly and often while he's at "at school").
He doesn't attend week-end ex's because he's at rock concerts, comedian shows or playing Call of Duty modern warfare 2.

The training at your unit isn't boring or slacking. Live fire jungle lanes. Live fire Section attacks with a C6 shooting over your head. Posting live grenades into bunkers. Soon  firing through a live fie platoon attack with support weapons. Most of the junior leadership and all of the senior leadership have various tours (and the training reflects this).
There's no personality conflicts and your section has the highest morale and highest turn out in the company.

How do you motivate that soldier to get on board?

Damn dude, sounds like you guys really have it together this year.

I think you need to determine if he's really interested in being a soldier, or if he's just playing army. It sounds like he's got all the raw material, minus the desire to actually to the job. I don't know if that's really something you can do much about...

Is he actually showing up often enough to stay off NES? Maybe a bit of 'tough love' or some sort of wake-up call is what he needs; he needs to realize it's either get in or get out.

 

[FDO]

3 things will help motivate this guy, IC, RW, C&P. If that does not motivate him fire his ass. 1 go getter in good shape is better that 3 slugs in great shape.

 

[bran]

I'm not trying to stick up for him, but a lot of students don't pay attention during class. That could be the reason he has facebook posts while he's supposed to be in class.

 

[Sprinting Thistle]

Has the sect comd talked to him?  Perhaps he needs more of a challenge?  Not everyone is motivated the same way.

 

[MJP]

Has the sect comd talked to him?  Perhaps he needs more of a challenge?  Not everyone is motivated the same way.

I was just going to chime in along the same lines.  I've ran into this sort of soldier before Reg and Res and it hurts section cohesion to have these sort of asshats.  That said try and give him something to be responsible for for the section as a whole.  Sometimes that is all they need.  If that don't work, hammer him and make him think twice about his (non)commitment to the reserves.

 

[CallOfDuty]

I fully agree with George.  Sooooo...what does he contribute to the unit??  If nothing is the answer, time to say bye bye.

 

[Franko]

Interview him and put him on notice. Doesn't improve? Show him the door.

My      :2c:

Regards

 

[Forgotten_Hero]

I see a few people say "Show him the door". What exactly do you mean? Kick him out? I dont see how that's possible.

 

[CBH99]

I would say interview him, see whats going on.  Let him know that you expect more of him - but at the same time, see whats going in his life.  He might be more motivated than he's able to show, you never know with students.

Maybe give him a responsibility within the section.  I know when I first started out, feeling useless was the most unmotivating thing that I experienced.  Once I had responsibilities and actually felt useful around the unit, I know my committment became a lot more solid.

Talk to him, see whats going on (school, finances, etc.)  If he really is just playing army + unmotivated, open up a position for someone who is. 

 

[Kat Stevens]

You should sit him down with a nice mug of cocoa, maybe a couple of marshmallows in it and some nice cookies, and explain that it's perfectly okay to underachieve, in fact there are government programs that promote it.  It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice.  Give him a hug, he'll appreciate it.

 

[Forgotten_Hero]

I hear those suggestions often, and it may work for some individuals but not others.

Personally, based on your description of the guy, he has the skill, the knowledge and the LCF... maybe what he needs is the BCF, the "Be Cool Factor" to bring him back, as in, he needs to accomplish something he can be proud of. He needs to do something cool that he hasnt done before, or something that can make him feel he's achieved something.

While you may think the training is cool and exciting and highspeed, maybe he sees it differently? Not gets the same value out of all training. His idea of achieving something and challenging himself might not be pepperpotting in a (roughly) straight line shooting at a piece of plastic that pops up occasionally. At the end of it, was there any doubt that he'd make it to the consolidation? No.

Thats my view on it. Another possible reason is that maybe there's some animosity between him and someone/some people in the unit. That can be another factor which shouldnt be overlooked.

 

[Blackadder1916]

How do you motivate a checked out soldier . . .

What's your definition of "checked out"?

. . . doesn't seem interested in training . . . doesn't attend Thursday training nights . . . doesn't attend week-end ex's . . .

When does he attend?  Or is this just a summer job for him?  Or does he only show up when it is a "party" function?  What makes him worth your time? Is it because you like him since he is "charismatic"?  It's easy to quickly write off a worthless piece of crap someone who doesn't look the part and isn't personable; perhaps you're falling into the opposite trap, seeing benefit when the only thing about him is outer appearance - no substance.


CF MIL PERS INSTR 20/04
ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY OF CLASS "A", CLASS "B" AND CLASS "C" RESERVE SERVICE

3.12 Non-Effective Strength (NES)

a.  Except for a member of the PRL, a Res F member shall be declared NES when their unauthorized absence from duty has exceeded 30 days, during which time no fewer than three duty periods were conducted by the unit. A period during which a member has been declared NES does not count toward qualifying service for promotion, incentive pay, Canadian Forces' Decoration or clasp, or the RFRG. NES shall not be approved retroactively.

b.  After unsuccessful attempts to encourage the member to once again become effective, the CO shall then initiate release proceedings under item 5(f) of the table to QR&O 15.01 within 60 days after the member has been declared non-effective; and

. . . . .

It is commendable that you have the correct instinct for a NCO leader; you wish to make a better soldier of this man.  That can be a greater challenge in the Reserves than in the Regulars.  You have fewer "carrots" and fewer "sticks" and less time to employ either motivator.  Since it seems that you have made some investigation into what this man is doing when there is scheduled training, the next step (if it hasn't already happened) would be to discuss the situation next up your chain of command, especially if he hasn't paraded enough to be considered "effective".

 

[Jarnhamar]

Checked out? I thought that was a pretty standard definition.  He's skilled requires minimum supervision and smart.  Doesn't set himself on fire when lighting stoves  ;D


I'm not ready to see him kicked out of the military. The CF spent a lot of money to train him and I wouldn't be a good leader if I didn't do everything in my power to keep I'm (within reason).  Hell I'm emailing calling and face booking soldies who are currently on NES and on their way to being released under a 5F telling them I'll help them write up an ED&T memo or help them release to try and spare them from being booted out.

In my opinion especially with the budget cuts you couldn't ask for better training at the reserve level right now. Live fire pistols rifles machine guns m203s 84mm's etc..  If THAT doesn't motivate someone to parade I don't know what will. 

In this case I don't think an individual should be given a special kind of duty within the section or platoon to prompt him to come in and work. TO me that's like a soldier saying "Put me on a jump course or I'm quitting".

As far s NES goes, he can miss a month, be warned about the NES status then come in for a training night, then miss another month. Maybe get warned again.
Do reserve members HAVE to attend week-end training exercises? Or must they only parade one training night a month to remain active?

I don't get the feeling both from the few times I have had a chance to speak with him and from his peers who are in the section and in his class at school that he has any sort of personal issue going on. He just strikes me as being too busy to work.

Maybe pushing him to go on ED&T until he decides to put an effort into work is in order? That way he is out of the company and it's not an administrative burden always trying to contact him or pulling out the NES card every month.
I want to motivate him but I can't help but think at what cost.  I want the unit to benefit from the soldier and the soldier to excel but after reading the responses here (thanks) I'm begining to think maybe I'm trying to be too much of a crusader.

 

[NCRCrow]

dumb question from me: Can you put a Class A reservist on an IC, RW etc.

(I am quite conversant with the QR&O's and DAOD's)

If so, would the person who is not so dedicated or does not care, just turn in there kit?

 

[Fishbone Jones]

dumb question from me: Can you put a Class A reservist on an IC, RW etc.

(I am quite conversant with the QR&O's and DAOD's)

If so, would the person who is not so dedicated or does not care, just turn in there kit?

Yes.

 

[NCRCrow]

Could the person just not show up to sign the IC?

 

[Fishbone Jones]

He would then eventually go NES then Release. If it were up to me, it would sit in the drawer and would be signed and started, the first time he entered the DND establishment. He comes under the NDA the minute he steps foot on the property, parading or not.

 

[NCRCrow]

So when the person is turning in their kit, you make them sign it even though they are NES and releasing.

Class A reservists (in my opinion) are people that want to be (volunteers) there and learn and contribute and not be a pain in the ass.

If you are going to be an immature ass stay at home.