Ethics-Redirecting the Army's Moral Compass
Abstract
The Army's Education System is failing in the ethical and moral development of its officers and enlisted personnel. With the end of the Cold War, the well defined and more predictable military role of preparing to fight conventional wars has shifted to a role that is much more diverse and less predictable. Today, soldiers are asked to be peacekeepers, peacemakers, and contributors to humanitarian efforts around the world. The new war on terrorism and drugs is adding to the diversity of these missions. Today's complex operating environment is fraught with moral and ethical dilemmas which the American soldier is not prepared to handle. The Army's "cold war" approach to training and development is leaving soldiers and leaders "stranded alone"1 to figure out how to resolve the inescapable ethical dilemmas of today's complex world. At the same time, the Army's moral compass is beginning to waiver. In recent years, the ethical behavior of the military has been called into question. Recent ethics headlines include honor code violations at military academies, affiliations with extremist groups, trainer and trainee misconduct, and key leader scandals. Officer and enlisted separations from the Army for "ethical reasons" have also risen steadily over the past 10 years.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 24, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404268
Entities
People
- Janet E. Phipps
- Mark S. Patterson
Organizations
- John F. Kennedy School of Government