U.S. Army: A Profession of Arms

812 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of leadership in the army

The impact of the War on Terrorism on our military is profound. Over the past decade the Army has rapidly expanded, lowered its entry standards, and reprioritized its training objectives. Now as the wars now diminish, the Army again faces change due to budget cuts and troop reduction. Such actions have forced critics to question whether the Army is still meeting the expectations of a profession. The answer is that the Army is holding true to the title of a “Profession of Arms” like never before. It is a profession because it is defined by trust, an expertise, and an ethic; characteristics found in all occupations claiming to be a profession. The U.S. Army ultimately exists as a profession because of the trusting relationship it has with the American people. The citizens of America, through the Constitution, rely on the Army for security; to carry out missions that they are unable to or refuse to do themselves. This is the ultimate form of trust; should it dissipate, the profession becomes nonexistent. A practical example of this from a recognized profession is the doctor-patient relationship. If a patient feels a doctor is unable to aid in the treatment of their health, the patient will either seek alternative doctors or treat themselves. Unfortunately, the Army’s care for this relationship has not always been stellar. On numerous occasions during the wars a small number of soldiers abused this trust by mistreating detainees or harming civilians. To be fair however, the Army is not alone when it comes to such mistakes. Professions are not immune from the immoral actions of a few; on the contrary, it is how they deal with these individuals that make them a profession. The Army took it upon itself to conduct investigations and hold... ... middle of paper ... ...it as a profession today. In conclusion, the trust, expertise, and ethic of the Army make it a profession. As with any organization with high expectations, problems arise and change must occur. The War on Terror certainly creates challenges for the Army, but like any other profession, the Army shall adapt and overcome. The Army is holding true to the title of a “Profession of Arms” like never before. Works Cited Caslen, Robert L., LTG, and CPT Nathan K. Finney. The Army Ethic, Public Trust, and the Profession of Arms. Department of the Army. http://www.dtic.mil. “Confidence in Institutions.” November 24, 2013. Gallup. http://www.gallup.com/poll. Franks, Fred, GEN. “Unified Quest Keynote.” Speech, West Point, NY. January 12, 2011. http://cape.army.mil “Profession of Arms: An Army White Paper.” Department of the Army, December 8, 2010. http://cape.army.mil.

Show More
Related

  • United States Army’s Organizational Structure and Culture

    3579 Words  | 8 Pages

    Hogan, D. (2004). Centuries of Service. Retrieved September 11, 2009, from the Center of Military History website

    Read More

  • U.S. Military Hindered by Indian Guerilla Tactics

    2223 Words  | 5 Pages

    Stewart R. W. (2005). American Military History (Vol. 1). The United States Army and the

    Read More

  • The United States Army as a Profession of Arms

    518 Words  | 2 Pages

    The United States Army, in its current state, is a profession of arms. In order to be considered a profession, the organization must have an ethical code rooted in values, strong trust with its clients, and be comprised of experts within the trade. These experts are constantly developing the trade for the present and the future and hold the same shared view of their trade culture.

    Read More

  • Ethical Considerations for Improving Army Enlisted Professional Education and Evaluation

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    Snider, D. M., Toner, K., & Oh, P. (2009). The Army’s Professional Military Ethic in an Era of Persistent Conflict. Security (p. 30). Carlisle.

    Read More

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

    1393 Words  | 3 Pages

    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...

    Read More

  • Military Careers

    2435 Words  | 5 Pages

    The U.S Army is the strongest most respected and feared ground force in the world. It is also the oldest branch of the military and also the largest U.S. Military Service. There are approximately 76,000 officers and 401,000 enlisted members in the active duty Army. The success of the Army lives and dies on themselves and others. The army protects all that the constitution stands for. And each soldier defends this to their last breath with Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Honor, and Personal Courage. The Army has a mission to protect and defend its nation. ( “Overcoming Challenges” np)

    Read More

  • The Army is a Profession of Arms

    553 Words  | 2 Pages

    In order to understand a profession, the Army White Paper gives us clear definitions of “The Profession of Arms” . The profession of arms. The Army is American Professional of Arms, a vacation comprised of experts certified in the ethical application of land combat power, serving under civilian authority, entrusted to defend the constitution and the rights and interests of the American people.

    Read More

  • Living the Army Ethic: Honoring the Soldier's Oath

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    “The Army Profession”, describes the essential characteristics of the Army Profession. As trusted Army professionals, we affirm that the heart of the Army is the Army

    Read More

  • Army Transformation

    1980 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Army has transformed several times during its history. Adapting to the operational environment is a necessity for the force called upon to prosecute its adversaries. The Army must do what is necessary to protect the U.S. against all enemies, and advance the national interests of the American people. To accomplish this, anticipation of threats is crucial and victory against its adversaries is an imperative. The nation relies on the military for strategic level deterrence and expects that it will be decisive in combat operations. For the military to be successful, it is important that transformation adapt to meet these expectations by conforming to the requirements of a successful force of the future in order meet any new threats in any environment around the world.

    Read More

  • Lesson Learned in Warfare

    2214 Words  | 5 Pages

    This paper examines lessons learned that are timeless in their relevance for all types of warfare with respect to the lesson materials discussed in the Warfare Studies course. The first lesson learned that this paper examines is the United States’ adaptability in response to changing nature of warfare. The United States has experienced various types of warfare ranging from war of annihilation, war of attrition, or fourth-generation warfare; the United States has no identifiable American way of war. Second, this paper looks at the importance and enduring nature of fourth-generation warfare and counterinsurgency operations. These events are here to stay and will be significant in the future conflicts. The third lesson learned discusses America’s poor planning and preparation for stability, security, transition, and reconstruction operations (SSTR) and demonstrated the need to avoid stovepiped, single agency planning. The apparent lack of planning for SSTR operations severely complicated and extended the United States mission in Iraq. Fourth, America must always strive to be on the cutting edge and maintain technological superiority over our adversaries in order to secure great advantages. However, the United States cannot solely rely on technological savvy military to achieve success. The last lesson learned discusses the growing relevance of information IOP as a powerful tool of war and the importance of it in shaping public opinion.

    Read More

  • Army Profession Essay

    655 Words  | 2 Pages

    Our profession is built on expertise, trust, development, values, and service. As professionals we provide our skills, leadership, character, and we always put our mission first. In our profession, we face many challenges and obstacles.

    Read More

  • Sexual Assault In The Military

    921 Words  | 2 Pages

    Sexual assault in the military has become one of the most controversial of all issues that have been discussed over the years. The topic has received extensive media coverage and has contributed to multiple media scandals. According to a Newsweek report done in 2011, women are more likely to be assaulted by fellow soldiers than killed in combat. The Department of Defense estimates approximately 19,000 sexual assaults occur per year amongst military personnel. That number is stifling considering that in the last year only 1,108 troops filed for investigation, and of those only 575 cases were processed. Out of the 575 processed cases only 96 went to Court Martial. Obviously from the numbers, sexual assault is a serious issue in the military. Much like in the civilian world there is bias when it comes to the guilt or innocence of the attacker, as well as the validity in the accounts of the accuser. I believe that the system in place may inadvertently contribute to the continuous rise in sexual assaults and that if this system isn’t fixed quickly, it will be detrimental to the organization as a whole. Sexual assault has seriously negative impacts on service members and their families. That impact carries over to their work, limiting mission readiness, and undermining national security.

    Read More

  • Reflective Essay: The Role Of Ethics In The Military

    467 Words  | 1 Pages

    The military has ingrained a set of standard by setting the seven Army values, Equal Opportunity programs, and Army regulations that govern how we act during ethical dilemmas. These programs and beliefs are especially important because each Soldier comes from a different background and environment, and cannot afford to have disruptions in workplace that can put our Soldiers in the way of harm. In order to maintain a healthy environment we need to keep defining and promoting an ethical

    Read More

  • The Army Profession

    1238 Words  | 3 Pages

    Webster’s dictionary defines the word profession as a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill. Many Soldiers would not consider the Army as a profession but a way of life. Some think the word profession belongs to everyday jobs like a plumber, mechanic, or doctor. Dr. Don M. Snider stated “the Army is a profession because of the expert work it produces, because the people in the Army develop themselves to be professionals, and because the Army certifies them as such” (Snider, D. M. 2008). In October 2010, the Secretary of the Army directed the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to lead an Army wide assessment of the state of the Army Profession. We have been at war as a Country for over a decade and the Army wanted to know how to shape the future of the Army as a profession and the effects the past decade had on our profession.

    Read More

  • Essay On Homeland Security

    1248 Words  | 3 Pages

    The military is tasked with the duty and responsibility of protecting the nation from external attacks and managing any attacks that may happen. Over the years, countries across the world have engaged in conflicts originating from differences in policies and invasion of privacy and unfair treatment of citizens in foreign countries. In...

    Read More

More about U.S. Army: A Profession of Arms

Open Document