U.S. Army War College >> Strategic Studies Institute >> Publications >> Details

Finding "The Right Way": Toward an Army Institutional Ethic

Authored by LTC Clark C. Barrett.

Brief Synopsis

The ethical lapses exemplified by Abu Ghraib, Mahmudiyah (Blackhearts), and Maywand (5/2 Stryker) are distressing symptoms of an even bigger, and a potentially devastating cultural shortcoming. The U.S. Army profession lacks an institutional ethical framework and a means of peer-to-peer self-governance. The frameworks the Army has may imply, but do not explicitly dictate, an Army ethic. Other English-speaking nations' ethical constructs can inform the development of an Army Ethic which serves to protect our organizational and individual honor from moral and ethical lapses which do great harm to the institution, undermine the American public trust, and hinder mission accomplishment. This Paper describes the problem, provides a review of the literature, including current Army artifacts, partner nation military ethics, and necessary philosophical underpinnings. It also addresses the importance of promulgation, nontoleration, and the necessity for the Army to act as a learning organization. Finally, the Paper supplies and justifies a proposed institutional and individual Army Ethic and a means of promulgation, ethical decisionmaking and governance. The proposed Ethic replaces and integrates a number of disjointed and disconnected Army artifacts.

You may also be interested in the following titles:

• 
  Starting Strong: Talent-Based Branching of Newly Commissioned U.S. Army Officers

• 
  Breaking the Bathsheba Syndrome: Building a Performance Evaluation System that Promotes Mission Comm...

• 
  Developing Emerging Leaders: The Bush School and the Legacy of the 41st President

• 
  The Future Security Environment: Why the U.S. Army Must Differentiate and Grow Millennial Officer Ta...

• 
  2015-16 Key Strategic Issues List

• 
  A Shared Burden: The Military and Civilian Consequences of Army Pain Management Since 2001

• 
  The Limits of Military Officers’ Duty to Obey Civilian Orders: A Neo-Classical Perspective

• 
  Paid to Perform: Aligning Total Military Compensation with Talent Management, Vol. 8

Survey: Finding "The Right Way": Toward an Army Institutional Ethic

1. How would you rate the writing and overall quality? (5 best - 1 Worst)

12345

N/A

2. Is the content relevant for influencing present and future debates?

YesNoNo Opinion

Your Comments (No URLs Allowed):

If you'd like a reply to your comments, provide your email:
(optional)

View other pubs in the following categories:

Military Leadership
Military Culture
Military Professionalism