Full Metal Jacket

In the film Full Metal Jacket there are many leaders. The two I will focus on are Sergeant Drill Instructor (SDI) Hartman and �Joker’. They are two leaders with very different leadership skills. SDI Hartman is a strict and demanding leader who belittles his recruits to get their attention. Joker is a likeable character with a sense of humor and leads with honor and dignity. Both characters portray leadership skills to Private Pyle but the differences are night and day.

The beginning of the film portrays SDI Hartman as a mean SOB. Joker is a witty and sarcastic recruit who can talk himself out of any situation. Private Pyle is a fat and slow recruit who probably shouldn’t be in the Marines. SDI Hartman gets on Joker and Pyle and humiliates them both in front of their comrades. Eventually Joker earns the respect of Hartman and is rewarded with leadership of the squad. Pyle, on the other hand, does not get the same respect. He is constantly put down and embarrassed by Hartman. Joker reaches out to Pyle in an attempt to transform him into a Marine that can survive in combat. The film shows Joker teaching Pyle how to do basic tasks such as lacing his boats, cleaning his gun, and climbing over a tower. Joker takes on these responsibilities because he is a leader and wants Pyle to succeed. I feel Joker tries to lead by example where as Hartman leads with fear.

One night, Hartman is inspecting the recruits and their lockers and finds Pyle’s locker to be unlocked. Upon inspecting Pyle’s locker he finds a jelly doughnut and gives him hell