It is always important to have a good sense of time and responsibility. Time is key to everything in the military. If you are on time, ten minutes prior, then it shows you have a good sense of responsibility and duty. The deciding factor to almost everything in the military is time. If you are late, then you hender the mission. You can show that you are a good soldier if you can be at the right place, at the right time, in the right uniform. Doing something as simple as that can put you out infront of the rest of your peers.
When you show you have the smallest responsibility down, showing up on time, then you will get more responsibility. More responsibility gives you the opportunity to show that you can handle more and possibly get promoted. When you can not, then you get all the things you take for granted taken away. Earlier for formation, possibly not getting to take leave/pass, and overall not getting trusted. If you can not be trusted with the simplest task of being on time, how will you be trusted if you get in trouble and it is your word against another?
Being on time for formations not only helps you out, but helps out your squad leader, platoon sergeant, platoon leader, first sergeant and your commander. It helps out everyone arouns you too. Who really wants to get mass punishment for one person. Wether it was an accident, their alarm did not go off, or just them being an unsquared away soldier. No one wants to get punished for something they didnt do. It is easy to follow directions and be on time for formations. All you have to do is what you are told. Being on time makes your life easier.
It helps out your squad leader by making him/her not have to worry about where you are and about getting chewed out. It helps them know that you are reliable and it makes them have to not do paperwork. They can be less of a micromannager on you because they know you do not need it. They will not be forced to take away your personal time either. It...