The Army: A Profession of Arms

[Chris Case]

I agree with Ken White. Good point, well made. - but I would further add, that I find it very disturbing that this debate even got going.

You cannot teach "ethics" and morality. You teach Law. You teach what is written. Policy is always ethical. That is what policy "is."

I think there is very great danger that TRADOC has managed to elevate something pretty simple, into a pseudo-science, which lacks a grounding in the simple and classical teachings that have proven effective historically.

Is this hyperbole? An inside joke? I want to check before someone takes my comments about it the wrong way.

[Bob's World]

I thought about this a lot as junior officer who had the pleasure to work for a few officers that were dreadfully weak. I came to the philosophy of staying focused on the mission and my men; and using as my guiding context that "while it is sometimes right to do the wrong thing, it is never wrong to do the right thing." Just be prepared to stand tall and take the consequences when one makes that conscious decision to deviate of the directed path.

To blindly follow stupid orders (not inartful ones, but ones that put the mission or your men at risk) is a brand of careerism encouraged by the senior rater profile system. But those who break rules just to be a maverick or for self-serving reasons never impressed me much, nor those who would attempt to dodge responsibility when caught.

[William F. Owen]

Is this hyperbole? An inside joke? I want to check before someone takes my comments about it the wrong way.

Not a joke. Why would anyone start wanting to debate "ethics" and "morality" in a profession that should be bounded by "Law." What is "ethical" is delineated by "Policy." Un-ethical actions undermine policy.