Submitted by: Submitted by amber1027
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Date Submitted: 05/14/2012 11:55 AM
Department of the Army
Pamphlet 600-35
Personnel-General
Relationships
Between
Soldiers of
Different Rank
Headquarters
Department of the Army
Washington, DC
21 February 2000
PREFACE
Discipline is the soul of the Army. It makes small numbers formidable,
procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.
George Washington
Good order and discipline is imperative to the success of military organizations. It is the
bedrock upon which unit cohesion is built. Unit cohesion is the result of soldiers believing that their unit treats them fairly and that the order and discipline is indeed good. Soldiers of all ranks must feel they belong to the "family." We want to build the bond between soldiers, which will enable them to fight, win, and survive on the battlefield.
Building the "family" requires treating one another with dignity and respect. Positive personal relationships are marks of good, solid interaction between soldiers of different
rank. The Army needs professional, caring interactions because they build vertical
bonds which tie leaders and followers. The leader must be counted on to use good
judgment, experience, and discretion to draw the line between relationships that are
"destructive" and those that are "constructive."
Unit cohesion is hampered anytime relationships between the unit’s members compromise the chain of command. If soldiers believe that the chain of command is partial, unfair, uses rank for personal gain, or is exploitive or coercive in nature, discipline breaks
down and cohesion is destroyed. Damage to the unit occurs when the chain of command is compromised and even when soldiers simply believe it has been compromised.
Real or imagined, the unit and the Army pay the price when relationships between its
soldiers are, or are perceived to be, unprofessional.
Soldiers of all ranks meet and associate with each other in many settings, both on and
off duty. These meetings and associations foster the trust and confidence...