The Importance of Accountability in The Army [1000-word]

Accountability is one of the key factors in any organization that is presentable, successful and dependable. Without proper accountability time is often spent inefficiently and the mission is often either delayed or unachieved. Accountability is defined as being responsible for someone or something at a certain time or event. It is also a duty to accept responsibility or to account for ones actions. Throughout this essay I will describe the importance of accountability and why it is so important to the United States Army by answering the following questions:

• Why does the Army stress accountability so much?
• What adverse actions can happen to an organization when a Soldier fails to be accountable?
• What are the benefits of accountability and how they benefit the Army?
• How I can exercise accountability more efficiently in the future?
• What have l learned throughout this experience?

American Traditions That are Still Practiced Today

Amongst different battle drills, customs and courtesies and even ceremonies, accountability is one of these traditions, and perhaps even the most important. I have spent a little over three years in the United States Army and as to this date, I cannot remember a single time when accountability has not taken place. Whether we are getting a head count of how many soldiers are present in today’s formation, how many weapons have been drawn from the arms room, or even how many PT jerseys were drawn from Unit Supply there is always a mandatory count which is usually documented. In many real Army Units, Soldiers are often tasked with unloading Supply Conex Box’s that have been locked and secured since the last time that they were opened, just to ensure that all items are present and accounted for. Many people would ask why the Army stresses so much about having their arms, equipment and Soldiers accounted for and ready to go even in times when it seems unnecessary to do so. This is because the Army is expected to be ready to fight and win at moment’s notice. They are expected to be ready to deploy half way across the World at any given time and in order to do so, the Army must have all of it’s Soldiers, arms and equipment ready at all times. Army units break Companies down into smaller sections so that Leadership can keep closer tabs on their Soldiers and help guide and train them more affectively. Soldiers who are placed into the position of a team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant or a company first sergeant know and demonstrate the importance of accountability to a high standard. They have earned the trust and respect of higher to be responsible for other Soldiers. They are the backbone of the Army, assuming reasonability not just for themselves, but also for others.

Soldiers are always expected to be at the right place, at the right time and in the right uniform. This makes it easy for the chain of command and the Command Team to push out any necessary information to their Soldiers and also allows them to receive an accurate count of how many Soldiers are present for duty and that if they are missing any Soldiers that they are tracking their absence. When a Soldier just fails to report without giving any type of alibi in advance to their absence, the mission can be pushed to the side. Time is now being spent on tracking down this Soldier and trying to ensure that they are safe. However, more time is usually spent on trying to find a Soldier who did not report than expected. Command teams often do not know where to look for missing Soldiers or how to contact them if they fail to answer their phones. Army is a team, a place where people take care of one another and have each other’s backs and refuse to allow simple mistakes to become bad habits. Whether it’s a hundred Soldiers missing or if its just one Soldier missing, a team is not as strong without them as they would be with them. Proper accountability also helps Units in times of emergent circumstances such as natural disasters. This is another reason why the military stresses so much about proper accountability.

Accountability in The United States Army

Accountability in the military is crucial for the successful execution of missions. When Soldiers report on time with the required gear, missions can start as planned, ensuring focus on mission objectives rather than nonrelated issues like missing gear or tardiness. This preparedness enhances the team's efficiency and eliminates distractions, allowing Soldiers to concentrate on accomplishing the mission. Moreover, accountability instills pride in Soldiers, as it demonstrates responsibility and reliability, setting a standard for others to follow and fostering leadership qualities. Leaders must model the responsible behavior they expect from their Soldiers to promote a culture of accountability.

On 4 July 2019, I failed to report to the battalion run, tarnishing the reputation for the responsibility I had built. Acknowledging my mistake, I have devised strategies to prevent recurrence. I have bought a new alarm clock, which I will set every night to ensure timely wake-up. I will use my daily planner more efficiently, reviewing it nightly to stay informed about the next day’s tasks. Improved communication with my team will help us track important events and avoid similar oversights.

Throughout this essay, I have discussed the significance of accountability in the United States Army, the negative consequences of poor accountability, and the positive outcomes of proper accountability. I now understand how detrimental a lack of accountability can be to a unit’s mission and how minor oversights can lead to significant negative impacts. Recognizing that one Soldier's failure affects the entire team, I am committed to learning from this experience. As a promotable specialist, missing the rank of Sergeant by one point last month has reinforced the importance of continual improvement. I will use this mistake as a learning opportunity and ensure it does not happen again. If given the chance to become a leader, I will always uphold the highest level of accountability and set a positive example for other Soldiers.