Operations fail without discipline Published Sept. 21, 2007 By Capt. Deric Prescott 379th Air Expeditionary Wing SOUTHWEST ASIA -- "Discipline is the soul of an army. It makes small numbers formidable; procures success in the weak, and esteem to all" (George Washington, 1759). Warriors know that discipline is more than an abstract notion. It is the foundation for all successful military operations, from providing close air support to an infantry company in Iraq to efficiently executing an administrative function in the comfort of one's office. General Hal Hornburg, while serving as the Commander of Air Combat Command, captured the importance of discipline within the Air Force. "Nowhere is discipline more important than in an organization like ours tasked to furnish our Air Force with combat-ready Airmen. For thousands of years, personal, unit, and command discipline have separated the victors from the vanquished. Undisciplined people come home in body bags - and bring others with them." Discipline has many faces. For the vast majority of Airmen, self-discipline borne out of pride of service is more than sufficient to ensure that the mission is accomplished. In fact, it is self-discipline, not that which is imposed from above, that leads to acts of heroism and selfless giving. Sgt. 1st Class Paul Smith was the first servicemember to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions in Operation Iraqi Freedom. On April 4, 2003, near Baghdad International Airport, he organized a hasty defense with 15 to 20 Combat Engineers against 50 to 100 Special Republican Guard soldiers. Prior to his death, his actions made it possible for American wounded to be evacuated, saved an aid station, and possibly 100 Americans. Smith displayed great self-discipline while standing alone atop an M113A1 Armored Personnel Carrier, going through 400 rounds of .50 caliber ammunition and killing 20 to 50 Iraqis. As a leader, he also instilled a sense of unit discipline. Without their trust in each other and their training, Smith's team would not have had the discipline to face a superior enemy force. The cohesive group of combat engineers that Smith led is an example of what can be accomplished when self-discipline and unit discipline are present. However, when unit discipline is lax and self-discipline wanes, operations, battles, or wars can be lost. The military police and military intelligence units that abused Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib are a prime example. Both unit and self-discipline were shamefully lacking. General Ricardo S. Sanchez, Commander, Combined Joint Task Force 7, publicly recognized that Abu Ghraib was "clearly a defeat." The lack of discipline that led to those abuses continues to have battlefield effects that are more damaging to US security than any roadside bomb. When there is a lack of self or unit discipline, strong leaders must act. In those instances, command discipline must be imposed. Command discipline is often taken under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Operational success directly depends upon the disciplinary habits imprinted upon troops while they are in training or at their home station. We have high standards in the Air Force that we can't afford to let slip. Being late for duty or having a sloppy uniform may seem like a minor thing, but as General George Patton made clear, "If you can't get them to salute when they should salute and wear the clothes you tell the to wear, how are you going to get them to die for their country?" I am proud to be part of this team and I applaud all of you that help keep our standards among the highest in the Department of Defense!