Essay On Considering The Impact Of Accountability

Accountability is extremely important in the military setting because it allows for a chain of command to be established in which all things are controlled and accounted for, for the safety of every soldier, and the nation. To be more specific, accountability is being both responsible and liable for answering to a higher authority. There are a variety of things that go into accountability, including answering to your superiors, following orders, accounting for your where about at all times, and accounting for those below you in the chain of command, and your equipment. Being accountable also means being punctual, and carrying out your assigned duties in a reliable way. People who fail to act accountably put everyone around them at risk. This is why a “check yourself, then check your buddy” system is important, because it makes sure that not only the individual, but the unit as a whole, is safe, and acting efficiently. This is how missions are successfully completed.
When you are on leave, it is still imperative that your commanding officer, and through them, the chain of command, be capable of reaching you. There are a variety of situations in which the ability to reach you is key. If you are deployed, while on leave, because of an emergent situation, it may be necessary to contact you so that you can be recalled and made active. Additionally if you are traveling DTS then it may be imperative to contact you regarding changes in your travel itinerary. Finally, the chain of command’s ability to reach you is directly relate to personnel accountability, and the military systems structure for accounting for every soldier’s personal whereabouts and physical wellbeing.
There are also several reasons why it is essential that all personnel be accounted for. First, knowing how many, and what skills are available in the unit’s personnel is essential to determining manpower and strength. In other words, for a military unit to be effective at serving the nation, its personnel must be accounted for so that it can be used in a strategic way both on and off the field of battle. Secondly, in case of emergency, evacuation, or attack, it is essential to assure that everyone is accounted for, and kept safe. Knowing what personnel are in any one area allows for them to be sought out and removed from danger, if necessary. In short accounting for all personnel simply ensures that everyone is safe, and that their skills and manpower are being used in the best possible way.
Finally, it is key to be accountable for all equipment. This is very similar to the idea of accounting for personnel, in that it ensures that everyone is outfitted for readiness and for effectiveness in war time missions, or when working in a peace keeping way. Every soldier is assigned the gear that is needed for the task they are doing, so that they are fully equipped to be successful in the missions that they may be given. So, being accountable for that gear really just means staying ready to actively perform the missions you are trained for. If you do not have all your equipment accounted for, then you cannot be ready if you are called to serve. The army depends on readiness to ensure safety and effectiveness at serving the nation, especially during emergencies and deployments.