Punctuality

Punctuality is the characteristic of being able to complete a required task or fulfill a moral duty before or at a previously designated time. There is often an understanding that a small amount of lateness is acceptable; commonly ten or fifteen minutes in Western cultures. In some cultures, such as Japanese society, or in the military there basically is no allowance. Some cultures have an unspoken understanding that actual deadlines are different from stated deadlines; for example, it may be understood in a particular culture that people will turn up an hour later than advertised. In this case, since everyone understands that a 9am meeting will actually start around 10am, no-one is inconvenienced when everyone turns up at 10am. In cultures which value punctuality, being late is tantamount to showing disrespect for another's time and may be considered insulting. Most people regard lateness as a minor and pardonable offence and sometimes show up to engagements intentionally late, expecting the other party to easily forgive them. This attitude towards time is very common among young people and people without demanding or busy schedules. Being late communicates more than ‘something held me back for a few seconds’, it speaks volumes about your character, it has the ability to negatively affect the success of a mission and create an unfavorable reputation that would last many years.

When we are the one running late to a muster or other meeting we automatically expect to be forgiven and see nothing really wrong with our actions, but when we are the one who has to wait for someone running late, we see the importance of being on time and grasp the undesirability of lateness. When individuals are not punctual they cause a lot of inconvenience to others. People have to wait for them and waste their valuable time. Want of punctuality reveals want of culture and is discourteous to the person we fail. For many years, teachers have highlighted the importance of being punctual, not only for the other person’s sake but for one’s self. When we show up to a meeting at the exact time we say we would, we develop a sense of responsibility and pride for being able to do what we have said and are most likely to repeat the act.

Punctuality communicates discipline and reliability. Nobody penalizes a person who is punctual, he/she is seen as serious and professional. Using the business world as an example, many successful businessmen stress the importance of punctuality in their success. Many say it is their secret. All of us are not born with the virtue of punctuality. We have to learn it and make it part of who we are. Only constant work and practice can make this a habit.

More than anything punctuality communicates respect for other people and interest in the purpose of the meeting. It makes sense that we devote our time to things we consider important, thus people are honored when people report on time for meetings it means the meeting is important to us. Even worse than being late is being late with excuses, this only adds to an already questionable reputation because we shift blame to some other individual or process. If you are running late and there is nothing you can do to prevent it, it is best to contact the other person and inform them of your situation.

One of the great values of punctuality is that it gives discipline to life. We have to get up in time. We have to do things at the appointed time. All these entail a certain amount of sacrifice. It gets rid of laziness and removes our ‘take-it-easy- attitude’. A disciplined person very often gets recognition and social acceptance. He is wanted and appreciated. Therefore, punctuality can make us socially acceptable people. Another significant benefit of punctuality is that it provides plenty of time to do our work correctly and properly. Doing things hurriedly or haphazardly can have disastrous consequences. When we do things in time, there is a much better chance that they end up better in the long run.
It is well accepted that being on time and ready to work will make you a more productive and well respected member of any organization. The same is true in the Navy. However that is not the extent of the importance of being punctual in the military. All sailors must be accounted for. My being at the appointed place at the appointed time is critical to all levels of the chain of command.

My supervisor is responsible for my whereabouts during working hours and my POOW is responsible for my whereabouts when I am scheduled for watch standing. And up the chain it goes from there. If I am not where I am supposed to be when I am supposed to be there then they are not able to account for me. They then have to report me missing to the chain of command. If they then are not able to make contact with me, a search must be made. This costs valuable man-hours and unnecessary hardship on my shipmates. As a vital member of this organization, when I am not at my appointed place those around me must take on the tasks that I would be doing. Being punctual, for any member of the armed forces, is extremely important to the defense of the United States of America.

Working as a Hospital Corpsman and dealing with patients, it is imperative to arrive early. We are not only representing ourselves but the flagship of military medicine. As a military member we depend on each other to support the mission, if one link in the chain is weak, we are all weak. The lives of our patients and fellow service members that trust us to care for them depends everyone doing their job together. Part of that job is arriving in a timely manner, without punctuality and discipline we are nothing. The entire health care system, as well as the world’s greatest in military medicine, would be nothing without these values.

Working to care for retired veterans, wounded warriors, active duty, and family members alike is very important. Without punctuality and discipline we cannot provide adequate care to those in need of our help. Arriving on time shows the patients they are in capable hands and have no need to worry. One of the many things we strive for as Hospital Corpsman and Medics is the comfort of our patients, if they observe us arriving late to work they may have doubt we are capable of providing the necessary care they need.

Being punctual is useful in all aspects of life whether it be in the military or civilian world. If you worked as a lawyer and had a big case you needed to appear for in court and showed up late, you would not be allowed to speak on behalf of your client and would lose your case. If you are a parent and your children attend day care you would pay extra money to have someone stay with them because you were not on time to pick them up. The extra money that was spent to pay for a mistake you made could be put to use to have a college fund set up for your children.

If you arrive late to work you may lose your job, and would have to look for a new one. Employers do a background check before hiring and would see that you were let go because of tardiness. This may influence an employer to not hire you and without a job there would be no money. You would not be able to provide for yourself and would have to resort to either living off of somebody else until you could find a job or living on the streets.