Constitutional Paridigm

The constitutional paradigm according to Roush is a reference point. It’s an idea that guides people in the military to operate ethically, and clarify good from bad. There are four principals that must be used sequentially. The constitutional paradigm would be used when there are two conflicting moral issues that might both either be a win win or be a lose lose situation. The paradigm is a hierarchal system that places where your first moral obligations are. This system is mostly used in the military due to the high pressure and quick commands that a commanding officer might have to make. Not using this paradigm properly could lead to serious long term effect either physically like getting jail time or emotionally by doing something that at a later time you regret. The constitutional paradigm is the idea that you put everything before yourself. It’s saying that you need to make sure that you think of you country and your mission before you worry about your own problems. If someone thinks that an order is trivial that the paradigm describes 4 principles you should go through to make your final decision on this order. The first is the priorities of loyalties; does your order interfere with the hierarchy? The 2nd is to resolve the conflicting royalties if they exist. The 3rd principle is if you cannot follow through with the order should consider if this is the job for them and consider if they need to resign or not. Although penalties of this could result is actions by UCMJ. The 4th principle is rare but if an order is legal or offensive you can withhold the loyalties given in the first principle. It seems weird that you would put yourself last but if everyone put themselves at the top of their priorities the military would have the one common goal of protecting and defending the United States. Dr. Hartle’s baseline of what we commit ourselves to when we take the oath of office is that we have a commitment to professionally perform the tasks that have been appointed to us. The Oath is given to Midshipman when they graduate and receive their commission; this commission is a legal document saying that we will support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The constitution tells us that as military professionals that will follow “lawful” orders of those appointed us including officers that rank above us all the way to the President of the United States. It also allows us to disobey orders if they are not lawful according to the Constitution. Dr. Hartle also says that when you take the oath you are dedicating yourself to Duty, Honor, and Country. He explains how duty is the idea of being obedient, that means obeying the lawful orders that are appointed over you. Honor is a value that incorporates honesty and trust. To have honor means that your platoon or company is going to trust that you are not only going to tell the truth but also make the best possible judgment when someone needs it. Lastly country, this should be one of the biggest reasons that people joined the military to protect their country and protect the people that they love. Country is a “fundamental purpose of the armed forces.” In the event of moral conflicts with my military profession I believe that the constitutional paradigm is a good way to look at things. I believe in real life situations, there are more things that need to be added to the first principle. Religion would be a very high influence for me when looking at the paradigm. I don’t believe that my religious standpoint would hinder me protecting the constitution or my mission to greatly or at all. I will need to know that religion may guide my thoughts but I will have to overcome it to do my job and respect the oath that I have taken. Family would also be another tough decision to decide between. Family would defiantly be on my triangle in the first principle, although it wouldn’t be as high as religion. My family would have to know that I care for them but also family need to know that people in the military took that oath to be called on when they are needed and I think that is something that military families need to know. If they know that they are dedicated to their work and defending the United States from enemies than it will be easier to make that moral obligation when the time actually comes. They will need to know that I am giving up my life for a better cause and that I might not always be there for them when they need me.