The Military Profession: What Happens When Values Collide
Abstract
The United States Military continues to stress the importance of values for all who don the uniform in voluntary military service. However values training and education has taken a back seat to the demands and operational tempo of current military operations. This is a formula for disaster when new generations of volunteers from American society join the military with different values morals and ethical development. This paper explores the problem surrounding the values of Americas youth and suggests what we as a nation must do to better prepare young men and women for quality citizenship and the capability of leading our country. Data from studies of Baby Boomer X and Y generations will be extrapolated to compare them to the values espoused by today's professional military services. Preliminary findings indicate that major differences in values exist among each generation and how they perceive the life as a whole. From these differences evidence also suggests incidents involving sex harassment, race, money and "Abu Ghraib" scandals will increase as the military profession continues to rely on current society to fill its ranks. Values education must be reinforced to combat this probable dilemma using creative diverse and innovative program designs and delivery strategies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 22, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA449655
Entities
People
- Joseph J. Frazier
Organizations
- United States Army War College