Importance of Stewardship The Army Profession has five essential characteristics that define the Army as a profession: trust, honorable service, military expertise, stewardship, and esprit de corps. As an Army officer, these characteristics define our leadership within the Profession of Arms and have a direct influence over those we lead. Although each characteristic is significant with respect to the duty position and responsibility, stewardship is perhaps the most important characteristic to possess
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