The Unethical Behavior of the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division

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3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division must face reality. “The kill company” scandal has seriously damaged the image of the US Army, which in turn has challenged the trust the Nation places in its armed forces. More concretely, these events highlighted the need for strengthening the Rakkasans’ ethics standards. Soldiers are not warriors; they are ethical warriors, whose identity relies on two inseparable pillars: ethics principles and operational efficiency. The Army core values reflect this ethical identity and the duties that come with it. Understanding that warriors need solid ethical references, the Brigade will demonstrate commitment to the Army values, invest in ethics education, and engage leadership. Warrior ethos without military ethics leads to acts of crime, misconduct, and ethical breaches. On the one hand, fighting spirit is a central piece of combat power. In ancient times, the Spartans cultivated their culture of aggressiveness and competition to defeat their enemies. Soldiers do the same. That is what the US soldier’s creed is all about: “I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.” US soldiers are ready to fight, both mentally and physically. Mental toughness, aggressiveness, and competitive spirit have led generations of soldiers to success. This fighting spirit is necessary. On the other hand, the Army has ethics that guide and frame its activities. US soldiers fight to defend the Constitution. They all have pledged an oath to do so. The nation expects soldiers to be shining examples of the America’s best values. Soldiers have rules and principles that define the way to use force against their enemies. The Ar... ... middle of paper ... ...and, the Brigade will lead the effort, ensure unity of effort, and support the Battalions’ initiatives. The Brigade will “lead by walking around” to demonstrate its commitment to set and maintain an ethical command system. Being “fair but firm”, the Brigade will also give itself the means to support subordinate’s initiatives and remove those leaders that refuse to convert to the new vision. Soldiers are ethical warriors because they fight with Honor, Personal Courage and Duty. 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division will allocate necessary resources and efforts to meet the requirement of this identity. Ethics education, training, and most importantly leadership will chart a path toward a true ethical command system. Every Soldier, whatever his rank is, must understand the duties incumbent upon him. The Brigade’s operational effectiveness and credibility are at stake.

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