Personnel management

Media

Part of Philippine Armed Forces Journal

Title: Personnel management
Language: English
Source: Philippine Armed Forces Journal Volume IX (No. 6) September 1956
Year: 1956
Rights
Fulltext: PHILIPPINES ARMED FORCES JOURNAL Personnel Management By Lt. Col. N. B. Menina, DS • OT long agG, Headquarters, cer of the smallest unit of the Ar· Armed FGrces of the Philip- my, the prime consideration in the pines, ordered the creation execution of functions is the attainof a chain of morale-building forces ment of the common aim - the in a determined effort to curb and keeping of the morale of the men solve the apparent deterioration of in its maximum level. the morale within the Armed For- The Troop Information and Educes. These morale-building units cation Division of the Armed Forces are a part in the overall system of is exerting its main effort on the the AFP, which is patterned after premise of the concept that an eduthe most precisely-organized and cated mind is a most fertile field trained army of the world today. and medium for the dissemination ThrGugh its varied entities, the A FP of the correct orders of procedures handles its personnel for an ulti- and the varied rules and regulations mate purpose - to gather within that bind a military organization inits fold of efficient body of men to a compact body. In parallel leprepared tG carry out the mission vels, we also have the SpeCial Serentrusted to it, with an unwavering vices branch tG which is delegated purpose and devotion to duty. the duty and function of keeping tile From the Division for Personnel, physical being of the men in top commonly known as G-1 Division of shape through the rhysical developthe General Headquarters, Armed ment of the body by regulated, corForces of the Philippines, through rect and wholesome physical train- 'the • corresponding counterparts in ing. For a healthy bGdy promotes the lower echelon, the S-1 or per- a healthy mind. To this also resonnel Gfficer, to the Morale Offi- lates the missiGn of the Medical Service branch of the Army through men and send them to assignments the various ramifications of the that would suit his fancy. He Service. Adequate medical attend· should be one who can attract the ance keeps the body whole and the number of qualified men into his psychoanalysts and the psychiatrists organization and keep them there in correct the disturbed minds. The a comparative state of contentment . .. ~ ~~~:l:e~:~~:er:0 ~~e;h:hesu:~~~:n~~~ ~~ ~~rn~a~;~wear ~:otur:me~~y~~f~~ dy and the sane mind together. The logist just as well. And as such, Army chaplains play the role of ce· he must be an ardent student of menting together all the different human relations through the proper aspects of a man's personality employment of apr!ied psychology. through spiritual guidance. This He can readily listen to the pro· and all promote a whole body, sound blems of his men and is all ears to mind and peaceful living, the basic the official, personal and family concept of a happy individual and problems of the men under him. He high morale. would be a father, brother, and Personnel Officer friend rolled into one or a confessor "'' An officer assigned to handle the if need be. This role can be played personnel matters of an organiza- successfully by him if he can se· tion is not merely one who can rea- cure the trust and confidence of his dily procure the desired number of men and their loyalty. Nothing frequent meeting, between perJonnel offker ond men are very important in enltoncing humon re/otion1. Tlte per1onne/ officer m111t win the trull ond confidence of the men under him in order to 1ucceed in fo1tedng good ptr•onnel·monogemenl relation•. The spirilvol side of thing• s~ovld be well cored for II ;, imporlgnl l~ol l~e men be nol only plty<icolly 1ound - they musl olso be morolly fil lo di<cltorge l~eir dulie1 beller could be more dismal than a situa- dier to act and obey is the concept tion wherein a personnel officer, of service. who has the duty of looking after !'tlental Attitude the welfare of the men, is shunned The mental capabilities of a man and hated instead of being ap- are often suggested by his intelliproached and consulted by the men gence. However, intelligence, is dorunder him. In a military organiza- mant if the man lacks the will and tion, the desirable quality of the the urge to materially manifest it men who are mustere...! in is not in something concrete and. productgauged so llluch by their intelligence ive. Without them, lllan is inas their readiness to serve and their dolent. Again, all these and the inwillingness to stay in a state of genuity of man are just a tool. strict discipline. It has always been Needed is a happy and healthy mind said that a mass of undisciplined as a medium to put these assets inmen is just a mob and a military to a practical and product~e enterorganization cannot stand if it has prise. men of such category. Again, a mi- The soldier is the basic element litary organization is likened to a of an army. From him evolves all machine with a million parts that plans and strategies. It is for this are synchronized to function as one. reason that every material conside~~hil~o~~':!~:tce :::n:~i~:~t ~:ld~~~! ~~!io~l~~ersh;;:s/~i~~~ :ee~~:~e a:! \/ are trained to move like automa- spiritual, is placed in a state of contons, in a democracy like ours, the tentment when his material needs willingness and readiness of a sol- are amply provided for. But considering U!c sanctum of his mind, there still remains a vast void of an unfathomable instinct that is never reached by any material contentment. This is inexplicable by ordinary processes, but it is there. This, therefore, is the most difficult of consideration in human psychology, yet it is the key in seeking a means towards the attainment of a com· pletely happy and peaceful state of mind. Individual Soldier When mustered into the military service, a soldier's aims may vary from those of others under the circumstance. While others may get in for the adventure and the rough· and-tumble life of soldiery, he may enter the service for a completely different reason. This accounts for "}--" ~=nt~:ffe~~n~: o~n the th;~;is te~?~~~~ difference in temperaments that these men are handled psychologic· ally. As a general rule, all men are egoists. It has to be proved yet that a man would not love to have his vanity fed. The only difference is that some men simply wallow in self-conceit, while others are just pleased with it. So the ego is the nearest approach, in an effort to appeal to a man's good self. In most cases, it will open up the ap· palling dam of mental reservations that one put up before his fellows. It can easily break down the veneer of a crusty and haughty exterior of the reticent and shy individual. Of. course, this consideration should well be studied to differentiate the real "hard-boiled" from the former, and the haughty and aloof from the meek and the introvert. For one cannot be treated simply as the oth· er. And once this curtain of indifference is dropped, one has to show a sincerity of ~urpose but should never clothe one's interest of the soldier's welfare under the guise of a hypocritical attitude. One must I'HILIPPINES ARMED FORCES JOURNAL also be able to present a sincere rank that an individual holds rather understanding of their problems pri- than the rank to the job. In some inmarily and the resultant change of stance, the servility of an individual feeling and attitude, secondarily. to the whims and caprices of his To conceal one's advice with veiled commanding officer would ingratiate implications will only prove detri- him easily and earn him an unmeritmental to the cause. ed promotion. Yet rank entails a Once the soldier's confidence has corresponding responsibility, which been gained, an intimate prodding the person may not be capable of into his problem can be made. Of Here lies the maze wherein the concourse every effort should be exert- sideration of the efficiency of the Ol'-" ed to conduct the conversation with ganization is lost in a never-ending utmost sincerity on both sides. It chain of failures. All these factors is only in this level that the man-to- should be paramqpnt in the scheme man talk can be attained. But what of personnel distribution. This should wi!l be more difficult to tackle will be followed only by the personal conbe his official problems. For no venience factor which, though rating matter what approach is used, the only of secondary consideration, alpersonnel officer will have to be ways stands foremost in the minds guided by the limitations of exist- of the less-disciplined. This fact ing regulations and policies of the has become the common concept of service. service in the military population toPersonnel Distribution day. Time there was when the matter Strangely enough the practice of assigning men to the scattered has become more and more the rule military installations was so simple than exception. While instances due to the comparatively small exist to show that this has gained force comprising the bulk of the the coveted uplift of the morale of Armed Forces. However, with the the men, yet this too, in its most relative increase of the strength to apparent effects, resulted in jeoabout ten times the pre-war level, pardizing the best interest of the various considerations have posed service. It is an accepted military critical problems in the study of the concept that knowledge of the terdifferent criteria to meet the re- rain is highly important for a sucquirements of the military organi- cessful operation. But a 50\dier is zation. Service potentials have be- deprived of this very valuable source come a rarity due to the complicat- of practical experience because he is ing and growing demand for person- confined for several years in the very nel to efficiently manage the entire limited sphere of his home and ofmilitary machinery. Lack of ade- fice of his home and station. There quate and diver:o.ified training has is also more truth than can be thought \ · led to the scarcity of easily-avai- of, in the precept that experience is !able highly-technical know-how. Fur- the greatest teacher. Secretary of the ther, it has become a c4ronic and vi- Navy Robert S. Anderson once deeious fault to adapt the job to the dared: "One who enters the milita... ·~ A heofthy body for o heolthy mind. Phy•icol gymno•lics, sport• eYenlr, and other uerci1u involving loody movement• 1hou/d be o "m11Jt" in any organization. Abou, enlided ,.,., ore shown lroino'ns ol Scout !longer School, Fr. Wm. Md(in/ey, /1/zol ry service as a career has given up a number of things. He cannot quit on his own terms. He cannot strike. He cannot bargain individually or collectively with his employer. He cannot choose his own residence He cannot actively engage in politics. There are important abridgements upon his leisure time." Travel affords one a priceless source of information on places, customs, traditions, terrain, adaptability, resourcefulness, etc. Confining one to his station, which, more often than not, is also his home town or province, stifles this opportunity. It is not the intention of this discussion to divorce the human elei'- ment from the regulatory procedures of personnel distribution. The aim is to suggest more ideal means of achieving a solution to the perenial problem of appropriate troop assignments without prejudice to the service. In this regard, it behooves the superior and the commanding officer to exercise the greatest diligence, ('Onsidering the exigencies of the service as they present themselves and the need for stressing sense of duty above all. Individual Tendencies Man when confronted with the haUling problems of life tends to veer towards indecision. And in his groping for the right solution of the problem that beclouds his mind, he traverses the realm of unreality. He might stumble into a momentary relief by sheer luck or because of indecision, but he remains in a quandary as to the problem's solution. In his diligent search for the answer, he unknowingly puts up a barrier before him like a crust of indifference towards his fellows. It thus becomes an obsession to ward should not be the case. Trust and off any regard from his companion loyalty, like love of fellowmen, must who in his mind assumes the form be spontaneous. It ia wrong of an intruder. He worries unne- indeed for a superior to excessarily O\'er the slightest trifles. pect so much from his men and not And the crust of indifference hard- give anything in return. For this ens into a cloak of apparent hosti- is truly a matter of give and take. lity. And from the superior must come If the superior had the trust of first the act of giving Kindness his men at the outset, this morbid begets kindness, and love begets situation might have been avoided. lo\·e. The superior must show all 1\Iutual trust between the individual these to his men before he can ever and his superior causes the former expect his men to do likewise, for to seek advice and perhaps, the so- the superior must be the model of Iution to the problem, from the !at- the things he should expect from ter. Perhaps the problem is not his men. worth all the sleepless nights the in- A superior will reap more harm dividual had wasted. Yet it takes than good when he decides to openan outsider to solve it. ly play favorites among his men. The man's superior officers stand Handing out good will and privileges on a vantage position to allay his to the men must be done with equifear and uncertainties. A military ty. Harmonious relations among organization is such a queer set-up. the men cannot be attained when it The superior officer is always looked is very apparent that one is more upon as a guiding spirit. This is favored than the other. It would regardless of the intellectual back- again be sowing distrust and crealground of the superior, such that, ing a deterrent to sound p~rsonnel whether in battle or in everyday management when a superior starts life, the subordinates always look to show an unrestrained intimacy upon him for the things to do. This with some of his men and to bepsychological pattern of things is so come a fault-finder with the others. manifest in the fact that the Friendship should be confined to words of the superior are always purely personal matters. But in the quoted by his men with authority. discharge of his duties, he must be All these form the ideal setup in resolute with composure and yet the relationship between a superior must temper his sternness with kindand his men. But putting it into ness. A praise here and a complipractice is not as simple. How rna- ment there will go a long way tony superiors would stoop down to wards a harmonious relationship. the level of the men to gain their The faults of the men and the trust and confidence? minor offenses committed should be The superiors can expound on a treated with some considerations. lot of principles and expect loyalty An emotional superior, frantic with and trust from their men because concern over the shortcomings of a regulations say so. But this subordinate, would only tend to Individual'" well OJ graup talent •hauld be encauraged. Graup odi•itie• are a greal marale baa•ler after a hard day"• wark. Pragram• like the ane Jhawn aban help aha in •~plaiting the nolin tolenf af Jame which they may uJe once aul af the Jer•ice show a burst of temper that might be made on the spot and should not be uncalled for. Broad-mindedness necessarily entail a reprimand. '} :;~lt;i~~:ht a~:":l~c~~a:0;repe:::~:~ An individual should be made to to bring about a mutual adjustment feel that he is a part of the in the relationship of the men and entire machinery of the organizatheir superior. However, it is here tion. The sense of "esprit de corps" that the superior would do well to when instilled into an individual will insure a consistent show of judg- awaken in him loyalty to the orment. The faults of his men, no ganization and the men composing matter how insignificant, must be it. He should be made to feel that brought to their attention. Lit- as a part of the whole, his every act tie faults cornmitted in the past will be a reflection on his organizawithout concern oi the superior tion, not only upon himself. Sense would imbue the wrong-doer with of duty and love for that which the the conception that there is nothing organiziltion stands for should be wrong with the act, or that such an spontaneous and instinctive in every act is tolerable, or that he is just man. Forced on him with the proplain smart to get away with it. The mise of future recompense, these tendency of a subordinate would be virtues can not be enduring. The to go beyond the limitations service men who do what is right or repeat the act in utter even when their superior is absent disregard for his superior. When and who show the qualities required the misdemeanors begin to pile one of them even when not under presl- on top of the other, the superior sure. Men of this kind are would then be a step too late and made. They are made largely would only find himself in an em- through sound personnel managebarrassing position in the eyes of ment on the part of those occupyhis subordinates. Corrections must ing positions of leadership.