RBI
TO: SGT MCDADE, K
FROM: PFC BLACK, R
SUBJECT: THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ON TIME, AND INFORMING SUPERIORS WHEN RUNNING LATE.
ON NOVEMBER 13TH, 2008, I WAS INSTRUCTED BY SERGEANT MCDADE TO BE AT THE MARTINEZ GYM AT 1000HRS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING. ON THIS DAY, I WOKE UP AT 0900HRS, AND THEN WENT BACK TO SLEEP, WAKING UP AGAIN AT 0950HRS. I ARRIVED AT MARTINEZ GYM AT 1006HRS AND DID NOT INFORM SERGEANT MCDADE AT ANY TIME THAT I WAS GOING TO BE LATE. THIS SHOWED A DEEP LEVEL OF INDISCIPLINE ON MY PART AND IS TO BE EXCUSED BY NO MEANS.
TO BE CONSIDERED "ON TIME" IN FIRST PLATOON MEANS TO SHOW UP FIFTEEN MIINUTES PRIOR TO ANY SCHEDULED EVENT OR FORMATION. THIS STANDARD IS SET IN PLACE FOR SEVERAL REASONS. MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT GIVES LEADERS THE CHANCE TO ESTABLISH ACCOUNTABILITY OF THEIR SOLDIERS, PRIOR TO ANY EVENT OR FORMATION. WHEN A SOLDIER IS NOT PRESENT, IT GIVES THAT SOLDIERS LEADER AN EXTRA FIFTEEN MINUTES TO FIND THAT SOLDIER, AND GET HIM OR HER TO THE RIGHT PLACE IN THE RIGHT UNIFORM. THIS STANDARD ALSO HELPS MAINTAIN A GOOD REPUTATION WITHIN THE COMPANY BY HAVING ALL SOLDIERS ACCOUNTED FOR WHEN GIVING A REPORT TO THE FIRST SERGEANT. WHEN A PLATOON IS OFTEN NOT FULLY ACCOUNTED FOR IT GIVES AN IMPRESSION THAT A LACK OF PROFESSIONALISM EXISTS WITHIN THE PLATOON/ PLATOON LEADERSHIP.
WHEN SOLDIERS ARE NOT ON TIME, IT SHOWS A LACK OF DISCIPLINE AND MATURITY IN THAT SOLDIER. THESE ARE TWO CHARACTERISTICS THAT ARE NOT TOLERATED IN THE MILITARY POLICE CORPS, AND NOR WILL THEY EVER BE. WHEN A MATURE/ DISCIPLINED SOLDIER IS RUNNING LATE FOR ANY REASON, HE OR SHE WILL INFORM HIS OR HER SUPERIOR IMMEDIATELY OF SUCH, AND DEAL WITH ANY PUNISHMENT GIVEN WITHOUT QUESTION. WHEN A SOLDIER FAILS TO DO SO, THEY WILL BE COUNSELED ACCORDINGLY. WHEN SOLDIERS INFORM THEIR LEADERS OF THEIR SITUATION, IT GIVES THE LEADER THE...