Ethics in Combat: Preparing Soldiers for Moral Decisions in Combat, A Project Study
Abstract
The creation of the seminar, Ethics in Combat, evolved naturally; springing from my responsibility to the soldiers I serve as a chaplain in the United States Army, as well as from my own reflections on war. Soldiers had started bringing their trauma of battle into my office; moral dilemmas were the core of the problems distressing the men and women who sought me out, and I knew I had to do something to assist my fellow soldiers. The seminar was shaped by what I already knew about ethics and combat. My knowledge of both was more than that of a lay person, but it in no way qualified me as an expert. As a priest of the Episcopal Church in the United States, I had all the ethical theory any graduate of their seminaries would be equipped with. Over the years, I had gained experience. Before becoming a priest, I had spent my youth first as an infantry soldier in the United States Army and then as a metropolitan police officer. Both experiences exposed me to difficult and trying circumstances that involved quick decisions having great consequences. Even though death and injury played a large part in my experiences, it was never at the level or impact that I would eventually experience in war. It was a mere glimpse of battle, but with enough distance to protect me emotionally and spiritually.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1117681
Entities
People
- Sean Wead
Organizations
- Virginia Theological Seminary