The United States Army is a profession. As such, it has its own set of values, ethics, and standards. These guide the behavior of Army personnel and help to maintain the trust and confidence of the American people.
The Army Professionals adhere to a strict code of ethics. This includes being honest and truthful, obeying orders, and treating others with respect. It also includes maintaining confidentiality, acting with integrity, and avoiding conflicts of interest.
Army personnel are expected to adhere to the highest standards of conduct. They must always be loyal to the United States and its Constitution. They must also be willing to put the welfare of their country and its citizens above their own self-interests.
The Army Professionals live by a set of core values. These values include:
– Loyalty: Bear true faith and allegiance to the United States Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other soldiers.
– Duty: Fulfill your obligations.
– Respect: Treat people as they should be treated.
– Selfless Service: Put the welfare of the Nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
– Honor: Live up to all the Army values.
– Integrity: Do what’s right, legally and morally.
– Personal Courage: Face fear, danger, or adversity (physical or moral).
As the military emerges from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is well advised to take a long look in the mirror. Our combat-tested troops are undoubtedly going to have plenty of essential knowledge to reinforce and improve upon our place as a profession after ten years of deployments.
In order to do so, the Army must embrace Warrior Ethos and the associated values across the organization. In this post-war environment, we can no longer afford to allow our profession to be side-lined in lieu of other priorities. The United States Army is and always will be a Profession.
As an Army, we are bound by our Warrior Ethos which states:
I will always place the mission first
I will never accept defeat
I will never quit
I will never leave a fallen comrade
These values drive everything we do as an organization and provide the foundation for our success both on and off the battlefield. Our commitment to these values is what sets us apart from other organizations and reinforces our status as a profession.
Although I am a skeptic, I nevertheless believe that warfare exists and has many components that support this belief. The most important tenants include initial entry training, institutional learning, shared values, and control of our mission. All Soldiers must complete Basic Combat Training before being promoted to the rank of private first class, and all commissioned officers must do so from a commissioning source.
These programs instill the Army values, warrior ethos, and physical and mental toughness into every Soldier. After these Soldiers are educated on our shared values, they are ready to start their institutional learning. This is the process where Soldiers learn how to be a part of the United States Army.
The United States Army is one of the most respected institutions in the world because we live by a strict code of ethics. These ethics mandate that we put the mission first, never accept defeat, never quit, and never leave a fallen comrade. Additionally, we always place the safety of innocent bystanders above our own safety. The Army has been successful for over 240 years because we have stuck to these core values.
Finally, I would argue that the United States Army is the most elite fighting force in the world because we have a monopoly on our mission. The United States Army is responsible for maintaining land forces that are ready to fight and win our Nation’s wars. We are also charged with providing training and support to other government agencies and partner nations. No other organization in the world can perform these functions as effectively as the United States Army.
Unlike other military specialties, dentistry is a relatively new profession. Like medical school or law school in traditional professions, these institutions lay the groundwork for years of professional experience that will lead to mastery.
Starting on the first day of classes, Soldiers are trained on the Seven Army Values and Soldiers’ Creed. These words, like the Hippocratic Oath, set fundamental principles that all soldiers must follow. Finally, no one else has access to as much information, material, or resolve as does the US government.
The United States Army is the only profession that provides this unique and essential service to the American people.
The Army Profession has three core components: character, competence, and commitment.
Soldiers are expected to possess strong moral character. The Army values (loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage) guide our personal conduct both on and off duty. We must uphold the public trust by living up to our professional standards even when no one is watching.
Competence is more than just having the right skills. It’s also about continually improving those skills and adapting them to meet changing requirements. In addition, we must be physically fit, emotionally resilient, and ready to deploy at a moment’s notice.
Commitment is what ties everything together. It’s the dedication to the Army profession and our fellow Soldiers that drives us to be better every day. It’s what makes us want to leave the Army better than we found it.
The Army Profession is more than just a job—it’s a calling. It’s an honor and a privilege to serve our Nation, and we are committed to doing so with integrity, competence, and character.
The first step is for the Army to provide specialized training and qualifications to its personnel. Commissioning sources, BCT, and Advanced Individual Training for enlisted members are all part of this initial training. Starting at the start of IET, Soldiers are essentially apprentices. All soldiers learn information that is shared by other soldiers but unique to our organization.
The Army Professionals learn from those more experienced, grow in their abilities and are given increased levels of responsibility.
The Army is an ethical profession. As such, the Army requires its members to uphold certain values and standards. These values include: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. The Army also expects its members to adhere to the highest level of professional competence and maintain high standards of conduct both on and off duty.
Members of the Army Profession are expected to continuously develop themselves both professionally and personally throughout their careers. Professional development can take many different forms such as taking additional education courses or attending training seminars. Personal development activities might include things like volunteering in the community or joining professional organizations.
In conclusion, I believe the profession of arms exists and is vital to the success of our Nation. The Army provides Soldiers with unmatched training and education, instills our shared values, and has a monopoly on our mission. These three components make the United States Army the most respected institution in the world.