Army Sargeant Majors are being told to chill out a bit with the yelling and tough love, sources say. Instead of channeling their inner Full Metal Jacket drill sergeant, they are encouraged to take a more laid-back approach, like the one and only David Beckham. Regimental Sergeant Majors have always been known for striking fear into the hearts of soldiers as they are in charge of maintaining discipline in the Army. However, Warrant Officer 1st Class Matt Howarth, the head honcho at the Army’s Non-Commissioned Officers Academy, spilled the beans to Soldier Magazine, saying, “Some folks out there think we’re all like the drill sergeant in Full Metal Jacket. But let me tell you, those days of yelling and losing your cool are long gone. To me, a great leader is more like David Beckham, who never seemed to raise his voice.”
In the iconic 1987 film Full Metal Jacket, Gunnery Sergeant Hartman terrorizes a group of fresh recruits preparing for Vietnam. Similarly, in the 1970s series It Ain’t Half Hot Mum, Windsor Davies played the fiery Battery Sgt Major Williams. On the other hand, former soccer superstar Beckham was rarely seen losing his temper on the field. But WO1 Ciar Crow chimed in, saying, “Not entirely convinced that Beckham is the perfect role model, to be honest. Sure, he’s a good leader, but I’m not sure he has it in him to give someone a good scolding. People need to know that tough side is there, even if it doesn’t come out often. Shouting all the time won’t do you any favors. My personal style leans more towards that of a disappointed dad.”
Not really sure why this matters, but it seems like the days of the tough-as-nails Sergeant Major might be numbered. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like there’s a shift towards a softer, more understanding leadership style in the Army. Who knows, maybe in a few years, we’ll have Army leaders trading their boots for loafers and sipping tea with the recruits. But for now, it looks like the days of the Full Metal Jacket drill sergeant are slowly fading away, making room for a new era of leadership in the military.
