Military Deviance

Deviating from the Military

Effective military operation depends on discipline, including unquestioning adherence to rules and respecting a clear and rigid hierarchy of authority. [Page 442]As such, many of the written and unwritten rules in the military revolve around following orders. In fact, one of the articles in the UCMJ is “failure to obey order or regulation.” This same value is seen in other articles, including absent without leave, desertion, insubordination, missing movement, contempt/disrespect of officers, and mutiny. The rules are clear: A soldier owes respect to the institution and its processes, and any behavior that deviates from these expectations will be negatively sanctioned.

Deviating from the “Soldier”

In addition to discipline, effective military operation—and effective operation of any institution—depends on uniformity. As such, the military has a strict standard for the soldier, a standard that includes expectations ranging from appearance to behavior. Military personnel can be punished for not meeting the regulations of hair length, facial hair, uniform, and clothing accessories. Military personnel can also be sanctioned for general violations such as misconduct, misbehavior, drunk on duty, and conduct unbecoming. The last can include behaviors ranging from dishonesty to cruelty and injustice. This standard of soldiering shows that the total institution of the military defines not only acceptable behavior but also acceptable identity. While this is not unique to the military—all of society has norms about appearance and behavior—the socialization of these norms in military personnel and the sanctions of those who violate these norms are significantly more intense in the military compared with the larger society.

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