How to “Motivate” — Military Style
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MILITARY MOTIVATION THEORY — In a Nutshell
Spoof By Vikram Karve
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NB:
The generic term “Military” includes all the three Armed Forces — Army, Navy and Air Force.
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PART 1
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MOTIVATION THEORIES
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If you have studied “Management” — you will be aware of various “Motivation Theories” which you can use to “motivate” employees working in the civilian industry/corporate sector/offices.
A few of these “Employee Motivation Theories” which I have heard of are listed below:
- Maslow Hierarchy of Needs Theory
- ERG Motivation Theory Alderfer
- McClelland Achievement and Acquired Needs Theory
- Stacey Adams Equity Theory
- Herzberg Hygiene Factors and Motivators Theory
- Vroom Expectancy Motivation Theory
- Hackman and Oldham Job Characteristics Model
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If you surf the internet — you will find a deluge of information of “motivation” and “motivation theories”.
Ostensibly — most people think that these same civilian motivation theories are applicable to the military as well.
That is what was told to me at the numerous “Defence Management” courses I attended from time to time as a part of my “Officer-ship Training”.
However — the motivation style that I observed during my long military career — in the Navy — was totally different from the well-known motivation theories taught in management courses.
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In the Military — FEAR is used as the prime motivator.
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Yes — the military believes that:–
“Fear” is the greatest and best Motivator.
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PART 2
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“FEAR” IS THE BEST MOTIVATOR
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Dear Reader:
The Military believes that:
“Fear is the greatest and best Motivator”.
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In fact — Military Law and Rules/Regulations have been framed in such a way as to inspire fear in the hearts of those subject to these laws/rules/regulations.
You don’t believe me…?
Just read ‘The Navy Act, 1957’
Most Chapters/Sections of this Act are devoted to discipline, punishments, court-martial etc.
By chance — if Navy aspirants read ‘The Navy Act’ — they may think twice before signing up.
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(To be fair to the Navy — I remember that it was mentioned in our appointment letter that we should obtain a copy of The Navy Act, 1957 — and we were advised to read it to familiarize ourselves about the Navy before joining — they had even given details of Law Book Stores where it would be available)
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Well — I am not familiar with Army and Air Force Acts, Rules, Regulations etc. — but I can guess — that just like Navy Act and Regulations — these military regulations have been designed to inspire fear — because — probably — the Military believes that:
“Fear is the Key to Discipline”.
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So — FEAR is used as the ‘Key Motivator’.
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PART 3
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“FEAR” MOTIVATION
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As we discussed earlier:
In the Military — FEAR is used as the ‘Prime Motivator’.
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The Rules/Regulations ensure that a military officer is permanently under the fear of “disciplinary action” — from the day he joins the military — till he retires from service and becomes a civilian again.
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However — there are other types of “fears” employed to “motivate” you at various stages of your military career.
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FEAR OF PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT
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A newly recruited Cadet is “motivated” by the “fear of physical punishment”.
Any “mistake” committed by a cadet is “rewarded” by various kinds of physical and corporal punishments.
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CAREER FEAR
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Once a cadet passes out of the training academy and becomes an officer — he enjoys a relatively good stress-free life — till he approaches the “promotion zone” for select rank.
As he spends these crucial years of his military career — doing “criteria appointments and courses” — the officer is overcome by “career fear”.
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SUPERSESSION FEAR
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Now — “fear of supersession” becomes the main motivator.
Suppose the officer gets promoted — and remains in the “rat race” — this “fear of supersession” will continue to “motivate” him — till such time he finally gets passed over for promotion.
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Once an officer is superseded and has been passed over for promotion — the “fear of supersession” no longer works a “motivator” for him.
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TRANSFER/POSTING FEAR
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Now — after supersession — the superseded officer can be “motivated” by the “fear of transfer” or “posting fear”.
This last “motivator” (“fear of transfer”) can be used effectively to “motivate” the officer till the last day until the officer finally retires from service.
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PART 4
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FEARLESS “SELF ACTUALIZED” OFFICERS
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Of course — there are some self-actualized “mavericks” who are beyond motivation.
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As Cadets — they are willing to undergo any amount of physical hardships.
These tough guys are not afraid of punishments — and they are not bothered about restrictions and relegations.
So — “fear of physical punishment” does not work as a “motivator” for these mavericks.
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Later — as Officers — they don’t care two hoots about promotion and posting.
Yes — I have seen officers who are not bothered about promotion.
And — they are prepared to be transferred anywhere on posting.
So — “fear of supersession” and “fear of transfer” do not work as “motivators” for these “self-actualized” officers.
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PART 5
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CONCLUSION
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These “self-actualized” officers are not vulnerable to the Military Motivation Theory based on “Fear” as the prime motivator.
These “fearless” individuals are beyond “motivation” — they don’t give a tinker’s damn.
It is these self-actualized “mavericks” who are truly happy officers — who genuinely enjoy every moment of their military life — starting from their cadet life in the academy — right until their retirement from military service.
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VIKRAM KARVE
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- This story is a spoof, satire, pure fiction, just for fun and humor, no offence is meant to anyone, so take it with a pinch of salt and have a laugh.
- All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
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Link to my source blog posts in my Blog Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2017/06/how-to-motivate-military-style.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/11/humor-in-uniform-lick-and-kick-human.html
This is a revised re-post of my article “MILITARY MOTIVATION” written by me Vikram Karve 8 years ago in 2015 and posted by me Vikram Karve at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2015/11/military-motivation-in-nutshell.htmland http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/03/humor-in-uniform-military-motivation.htmland https://karve.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/military-wisdom-how-to-motivate-people/ andhttp://karvediat.blogspot.in/2016/10/humor-in-uniform-motivation-military.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2016/11/humor-in-uniform-lick-and-kick-human.html and http://karvediat.blogspot.com/2017/05/human-resource-hr-management-contrarian.html and https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/military-style-motivation-how-to-motivate-people-part-2/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2019/12/27/how-to-motivate-military-style-motivation/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2019/04/24/how-to-motivate-military-style/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2020/12/07/military-style-motivation-how-to-motivate-people-part-2/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/01/28/humor-in-uniform-human-resource-hr-management-a-contrarian-approach/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2021/06/02/humor-in-uniform-how-to-motivate-military-motivation-theory/ and https://karve.wordpress.com/2022/02/09/humor-in-uniform-military-motivation-theory/ etc.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
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