The Problem of Accountability in the Military Profession.

Abstract

Recent critics of the US military charge the military officers with being unaccountable for all the post-Vietnam failures in military operations. This article analyzes organizational and professional developments since 1945 that have made it difficult to hold officers accountable for their failures. The author of this article contends that accountability has been seriously jeopardized by an organizational contradiction between the unified commands and the military services. This contradiction violates the principle of unity of command. Coupled with shortcomings in professional ethics, training, and knowledge, this contradiction has confused the lines of authority in the military organization, leading to a lack of accountability. Recommendations are make to reform the unified and specified command structure.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1986
Accession Number
ADA166710

Entities

People

  • Bernard J. Pieczynski

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Combat Readiness
  • Congress
  • Department Of Defense
  • Doctrine
  • Education
  • Military Education
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Military Training
  • National Security
  • New York
  • Students
  • Training
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Political science

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Military Leadership and Professional Education.