Unethical Behavior during Conflicts

Abstract

Living by and operating within the framework of high ethical standards is always important. Ethical errors during conflicts have far-reaching implications that reach beyond an accusers unit. Because we are a nation fighting in a protracted conflict, the Army has experienced extremely high operational tempo (OPTEMPO). This has lead to fatigue and stress on the force. Unfortunately, it seems like each week ushers in a new headline that highlights Soldiers exhibiting unethical behavior while executing counterinsurgency operations (COIN).Those individual Soldier actions at the tactical level have negative, enduring strategic implications. As senior noncommissioned officers, we must make sure our Soldiers have a strong ethical foundation that can endure the rigors of executing diverse, complex operations in austere environments around the world. We must build strong ethical foundations by first setting the example, educating Soldiers and by enforcing regulations and policies. This will ensure our Soldiers have unwavering ethical standards that can withstand any ethical dilemma.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 02, 2011
Accession Number
AD1133812

Entities

People

  • Ian R. Dames

Organizations

  • United States Army Sergeants Major Academy

Tags

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.