Military Ethics as the Basis for the Senior Leader to Ensure that Military Force is Used Responsibly.

Abstract

This paper reviews the myriad definitions of military ethics and fashions a definition that is applicable to the unique demands of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. It also reviews the ethical conflict of interest inherent in the JCS positions, as Presidential appointee senior military advisers, as well as military officers. The paper reviews the ethical collapse evident in the aborted resignation en masse by the JCS in August 1967, and reviews two mechanisms available for JCS level senior military leaders to voice ethical opposition to Presidential use of force decisions. The paper concludes that a return to a more purely military focus on the part of JCS and senior military leaders will ensure that Presidential force use decisions comport with military ethics requirements.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 16, 1997
Accession Number
ADA327302

Entities

People

  • Donald E. Koenig Jr

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Congress
  • Court Martial
  • Employment
  • European Communities
  • General Officers
  • Governments
  • Law
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Personnel
  • National Security
  • Second World War
  • United States
  • Vietnam War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Strategic Security Studies