Command Sergeant Major Jason Dickson has been working in a groundbreaking role in the 7 Scots to help implement the British Army’s new policy for changing Army culture.
The Army Leadership Code was brought in by the chief of general staff Sir Nicholas Carter in September 2015.
Speaking in Croatia, Command Sergeant Major Dickson admitted the Army had been “getting it wrong” in recent years, referring to the way that prisoners had been interrogated and abused in parts of the Middle East.
He also alluded to autocratic leadership styles and sexual abuse towards women – physical and verbal – being two underlying systematic problems within the ranks which this policy aimed to drive out.
Command Sergeant Major Dickson, who spent 23 years in the regular Army, said a key part of his role was to inspire strong leadership in young people during their infantry training.
He added: “Something we’ve been really bad at in the Army is allowing and accepting failure.
“By empowering people, they are going to make mistakes. We have to allow them to make mistakes, within reason.
“The Reservists have been taught the leadership code as well. There are crossovers in getting this right for performing in their civilian job and also the effect of bringing up children as well.”
He believes a culture change is already happening and argued that this was vital, especially because women will now be allowed to join the cavalry next year and the infantry in 2018.
