Application Letter Critique

Resolving Interpersonal Conflict

Since this module is about effective communication at the workplace, I will describe an incident that happened in my company during my NS days. One day after training, the commanders of the company were discussing whether we should extend the training for the troops as there was a delay or the soldiers were not attaining certain standards. The company commander, CPT A, was in favour of extending the training. One of the platoon sergeants, 1SG B was however, against the idea. The argument soon blew out of proportion as both A and B started to get personal with each other. The tipping point came when CPT A accused 1SG B of always trying to hold back the company when they are trying to progress. 1SG B then pointed to his own face repeatedly and incited CPT A to punch him in the face. Up till that point I was merely observing the exchange as I was at a loss and did not know what to do to mediate the situation. When I saw CPT A stomping towards 1SG B, that was when I picked up my courage to hold CPT A back and ask him to calm down and not risk his career over one impulsive move. I said to both of them something like, "why do you need a 20 year old youngster like me to tell you what to do? Don't you feel ashamed?" After a brief awkward silence, 1SG B left the scene. Since then, nobody in the company has ever mentioned that incident.

Before this incident, A and B are already not on good terms. I feel that the discussion was just a trigger point for them to lash out on each other. I did not intervene earlier as I was worried that I will aggravate the situation. Furthermore, being 10 years their junior, I doubted that they would have taken my words seriously. I was so glad that they stopped being aggressive to each other after I tried to prevent the conflict from escalating. I am not sure if I had handled the situation properly. Maybe I should have intervened earlier? What would you have done if you were in my position?