The Army Values
The term “value” can be used to allude to the degree of importance of some thing or action. The aim is to help determine what actions are best to do or what way is best to way to live. In that sense, Army values help soldiers make decisions as to the best way to conduct themselves. The Army values create a value system.
Value systems affect ethical behavior of people in general, Army values affect the ethical behavior of soldiers. Army values are primary values, that means they are strong and not readily suitable for change. They are broad preferences concerning the soldier’s appropriate courses of actions or outcomes. As such, Army values reflect a soldier’s sense of right and wrong or what “ought” to be.
LOYALTY
Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other Soldiers. Bearing true faith and allegiance is a matter of believing in and devoting yourself to something or someone. A loyal Soldier is one who supports the leadership and stands up for fellow Soldiers. By wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army you are expressing your loyalty. And by doing your share, you show your loyalty to your unit.
Defining Loyalty
The word loyalty is typically used when in reference to a devotion and faithfulness to a nation, cause, philosophy, country, group, or a person. The Army values include all of these components. We see a combination of two distinct schools of thought; philosophy and law & politics. Philosophers, in the past, debated on what can be the object of loyalty. Some philosophers argued that loyalty is strictly interpersonal, in nature, and that only another human being can be the object of loyalty. In law and political science, loyalty is defined as the fidelity of an individual to a nation – either by birth, or by oath (naturalization). Loyalty, in terms of the Army values, includes both definitions.
DUTY
Fulfill your obligations. Doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team. The work of the U.S. Army is a complex combination of missions, tasks and responsibilities — all in constant motion. Our work entails building one assignment onto another. You fulfill your obligations as a part of your unit every time you resist the temptation to take “shortcuts” that might undermine the integrity of the final product.
Defining Duty
The term duty was derived from from the French “due” meaning that which is owing and the Latin words for debt (debere, debitum) referring to a commitment or expectation to perform some action in general or if certain circumstances arise. A duty can be born out of a system of ethics or morality, especially in an honor culture. On the other hand, many duties are created by law. The duties referred to by the Army values take both into account. Additionally, the Army values remind the soldier that performing one’s duty may require some sacrifice of self-interest.
RESPECT
Treat people as they should be treated. In the Soldier’s Code, we pledge to “treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same.” Respect is what allows us to appreciate the best in other people. Respect is trusting that all people have done their jobs and fulfilled their duty. And self-respect is a vital ingredient with the Army value of respect, which results from knowing you have put forth your best effort. The Army is one team and each of us has something to contribute.
Defining Respect
Respect, often called esteem, is a positive feeling or action shown towards someone or something considered important, or held in high esteem or regard.It is important to understand that it can be both internal and external. When direct outwardly, we usually think of the word respect. Contrastly, we often forget about the need to direct it inward, that is when we call it “self-respect”. The Army values highlight the need for respect in both directions. Respect is what conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities. And, it is also the process of honoring someone by exhibiting care, concern, or consideration for their needs or feelings.
SELFLESS SERVICE
Put the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates before your own. Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort.
Defining Service
Another word for service as alluded to in the Army values is Altruism. Altruism is the principle and moral practice of concern for happiness of other human beings or animals, that results in both a material and spiritual high quality of life. Altruism is a traditional virtue in many cultures and a core aspect of various religious traditions as well as secular worldviews.The concept of “others” in regards to showing concern varies depending on cultures and religions. Altruism is often listed as a synonym of selflessness, which is the opposite of selfishness. The Army values serve to elevate the mind above those things that seperate soldiers and brings focus to the bonds that are shared between them.
HONOR
Live up to Army values. The nation’s highest military award is The Medal of Honor. This award goes to Soldiers who make honor a matter of daily living — Soldiers who develop the habit of being honorable, and solidify that habit with every value choice they make. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do.
Defining Honor
Honor is the idea of a bond between an individual and a group. It is a quality of a person that is both of social teaching and of personal ethos. As a product of these things, honor manifests itself as a code of conduct which has elements like valor, chivalry, honesty, and compassion. The importance of these traits within a soldier is why honor is one of the seven core Army values. Honor is an abstract concept entailing a perceived quality of worthiness and respectability that affects both the social standing and the self-evaluation of both the soldier and the Army.
INTEGRITY
Do what’s right, legally and morally. Integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others. As your integrity grows, so does the trust others place in you. The more choices you make based on integrity, the more this highly prized value will affect your relationships with family and friends, and, finally, the fundamental acceptance of yourself.
Defining Integrity
Integrity is defined as the practice of being honest and showing a consistent and uncompromising adherence to strong moral and ethical principles and values. By that definition, integrity is an action word, it is something that must be demonstrated. It is being honest and truthful or accurate in one’s actions. Integrity can stand in opposition to hypocrisy. The Army values stress integrity in that it means acting according to your beliefs as opposed to being a hypocrite and doing the opposite. The word integrity evolved from the Latin adjective integer, meaning whole or complete. Soldiers are trained to be complete individuals, that is what makes for a complete a cohesive unit.
PERSONAL COURAGE
Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral). Personal courage has long been associated with our Army. With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times risking personal safety. Facing moral fear or adversity may be a long, slow process of continuing forward on the right path, especially if taking those actions is not popular with others. You can build your personal courage by daily standing up for and acting upon the things that you know are honorable.
Defining Courage
Courage, also referred to as bravery or valor, is the choice and willingness to go forth and confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. It is normally categorized in one of two ways; physical and moral. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical pain, hardship, even death or threat of death. Meanwhile, moral courage is the ability to do what is right in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, discouragement, or personal loss. The Army values also include elements of fortitude, in regards to courage, which points to perseverance and patience
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A soldier is always on duty!
The importance of knowing, understanding, and internalizing the Army values can be seen in the philosophy of Cicero. Cicero was a Roman statesman, lawyer and Academic skeptic philosopher. He played a very important role in the politics of the late Roman Republic. In his work “On Duty”, he suggests that duties can come from four different sources:
- as a result of being a human
- as a result of one’s particular place in life (one’s family, one’s country, one’s job)
- as a result of one’s character
- as a result of one’s own moral expectations for oneself
Soldiers are trained in Basic Training how important these things are in the United States Army. And, the biggest lesson that a soldier might take from this is that they are always on duty.