As can be gleaned from the Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 1: The Army Profession, the “key
As can be gleaned from the Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADRP) 1: The Army Profession, the “key
Before this course, my conception of the roles military officers in society and government had was that they were distinct individuals of a higher moral and ethical caliber. With these values came a voluntary but clear support of their chain of command and mission to defend the citizens of the United States of America. Prior to attending West Point, I observed an awkward separation between members of the armed forced and civilians due to lack of knowledge and familiarity of both worlds. Therefore, while I was aware that…
Following George Washington’s early example of forbearance, United States military leaders between the Revolutionary and Civil Wars honored the spirit of the Constitution by deferring to civilian leaders. However, this deference did not preclude pursuing personal or institutional political goals by courting politicians and playing branches of government against each other. Although military leaders sought to informally influence political decisions regarding force structure, promotions, and budgets, they did not seek to usurp power or take control when decisions unfavorable affected institutional interests. This pattern of civil-military relations became the norm, even when wartime conditions add additional complexity to the relationship.…
e. As the Army assesses itself as Profession of Arms, there are major strengths that have sustained the profession as well as tensions within its professional culture and ethic. After nine years of war we need a thorough assessment across all the key attributes of…
The Army White Paper addresses issues which centralized on the professionalism the Army has gone through the past decade of persistent conflict. It is not the final word on professionalism it is rather the beginning of understanding the management of transition and change within the Profession of Arms. It addresses issues related to professionalism from the perspectives of ethic and trust. It places the responsibilities to maintain the profession on the leaders at all levels by establishing culture and character within units as well.…
The statement of Niklas Luhmann “no human being is indispensible”(xiii) is reinforced by several Great men who have had many profound contributions to the United States and its Military. Three of whom prior to 1865 are George Washington, Winfield Scott, and Ulysses S. Grant. These great men have in their own times contributed a great deal of leadership and vision to the United States Military and Government. More recently than 1865, Dwight D. Eisenhower has risen to the level of contribution of the three great men before his time and may have even surpassed them in respect to the organization and advancements he ensured for the military of the United States and the country herself. George Washington, “father of his country,” lead the military…
The U.S. Army Soldier requires years of training to become an expert in his/her individual military occupational skill (MOS). While still a fighting force, the U.S. Army has invested heavily in educating and molding its NCO ranks to attain a higher level of competence. Among these many professions is the Human Resources Sergeant. The role of the Human Resources Sergeant as a profession in the U.S. Army continues to evolve and proven to become an invaluable contribution to military professionalism. The Army White Paper, A Profession of Arms (2010) discusses military professionalism and explains what a profession of arms entails.…
Cohen’s thesis, used as the base model for comparison in this essay will be his normal theory of civil-military relations. In this theory, he states, Officers are professionals, much like highly trained surgeons, and the statesman is in the position of a patient requiring urgent care. Essentially saying the patient is in the…
Standards are necessary within an organization to promote discipline, production, and efficiency. Recently, the Sergeant Major of the Army visited the Sergeants Major Academy and the focus of his presentation was really about Army Standards. The Sergeant Major’s message got me thinking about Army standards and the inconsistent application of these standards throughout the Army, specifically the ethical dilemmas that arise due to this inconsistency. If an organization’s standards are applied inconsistently, that organization’s culture changes and allows room for unethical application of those standards. In the Army we see this inconsistent application of standards in the areas of height and weight standards, the APFT, the tattoo policy, application of punishment through the UCMJ, and in unit reporting.…
Trust, military expertise, honorable service, esprit de corps, and stewardship are the five characteristics of the Army Profession.1 Each characteristic contains its own level of significance in the Army. It’s arguable that no characteristic can be more prestigious than the other. However, my experience in the Army has taught me that all these characteristics can be tied to trust. Trust is the blood that allows the Army to thrive, supplying life both to its surrounding people and to its internal organization. Trust brings unity, raising morale between leaders and their subordinates. Not only do we rely on each other’s knowledge and expertise for guidance, but the American people also rely on us to serve and protect our nation’s land. They rely on our guardianship, our honorable service, and entrust that our timeless morals, traditions, and values will remain intact throughout the change of leadership.…
A member of the Army does not simply become an Army professional overnight. The Army professional, as a member of the Profession of Arms, is bound to uphold two great commitments. The first is commitment in service of the American people. Our government derives its authority from the will of the people and through this we receive our mandate to uphold and preserve the Constitution. The second commitment of the Army professional is to his or her fellow soldiers. The lethality of our profession demands that we care for and trust in the soldiers to our left and right. Taken together, these two commitments define the Army professional.…
As the Army transitions from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, the organization is well served to take a long look in the mirror. After ten plus years of deployments, our combat tested warriors are sure to possess more than enough valuable knowledge to reinforce and improve upon our status as a profession. A TRADOC published paper explains “to be a professional is to understand, embrace, and competently practice the expertise of the profession.” I believe the profession of arms exists and there are many components that reinforce this argument. Among these components, initial entry training and institutional learning, shared values, and a monopoly on our mission are three of the most important tenants. All Soldiers must graduate from Basic Combat Training and all officers must graduate from a commissioning source. Similar to medical school or law school in other traditional professions, these schools set the foundation for years of practice that will lead to expert work. From the first day in these schools, Soldiers are taught the seven Army values and the Soldiers creed. Comparable to the Hippocratic Oath, these words set basic principles all Soldiers must live by. Last, no other organization has the knowledge, material, or will to ensure national defense and security. The Army’s unique and expert work ensures it is a profession in the truest sense of the word.…
An unbalanced force brings upon a challenge to effectively develop our Soldiers. It not only impedes our forces, but in turn it decreases our effectiveness and capability to employ when and where the nation needs forces and succeeding in the mission. We have learned over the many years through the first outbreaks of war and conflict how the lack of Senior leadership presence forced junior Soldiers to fight the war with no experience and expertise. As the war evolved, the Army logically adapted to a strategy of combat where all Soldiers became versatile. The balance of leadership also affects the balance of the Army’s culture, climate and its institutional practices. How well they are aligned effects the influences of today’s Army Soldiers and their commitment, fulfillment and welfare. The institutional management systems in today’s Army must be utilized to retain and motivate Soldiers to thrive as they continue to progress in the Organization. (An Army White Paper, The Profession of Arms,…
The relationship between military and political leaders has always been complicated, especially during war times. In the Supreme Command, Eliot Cohen examines four historical portraits: Lincoln, Clemenceau, Churchill and Ben-Gurion, to proof through a practical example, his argument that, despite their military experiences, statesmen should not turn their wars over to their generals. Cohen tried to sell his product of civil-military relations based on the concept that the civilian authority should intervene at the tactical and operational level in order to achieve success in war. In this paper, I will define the general argument of Supreme Command then I will explain how Cohen account of civil-military relations to Lincoln during the American…
In conclusion, the behavior of the military experienced and non-military experienced has been thoroughly compared and contrasted. The statements made within this essay hinge upon the characteristics of knowledge, commitment, and discipline. Each statement has been illustrated through examples, and is used to shed light upon the failings of the civilian society and how it could be improved through the incorporation of some military…
What is the difference between the battlefield and the battlespace, and how will this difference shape conflict in the 21st century?…