Finding "The Right Way": Towards an Army Institutional Ethic
Abstract
The ethical lapses exemplified by Abu Ghraib, Mahmudiyah (Blackhearts), and Maywand (5/2 Stryker) are distressing symptoms of an even bigger, and potentially devastating, cultural shortcoming. The U.S. Army profession lacks an institutional ethical framework and a means of peer-to-peer self-governance. The frameworks that the Army currently utilizes may imply, but they do not explicitly dictate, an Army Ethic. Other English-speaking nations' ethical constructs can inform the development of an Army Ethic that serves to protect our organizational and individual honor from moral and ethical lapses. Such lapses do great harm to the institution, undermine the American public's trust, and hinder mission accomplishment. This study describes the problem of ethical lapses and provides a review of the literature on institutional ethics, including current Army artifacts, partner nation military ethics, and necessary philosophical underpinnings. The study also addresses the importance of promulgation, non-toleration, and the necessity for the Army to act as a learning organization. Finally, the study supplies and justifies a proposed institutional and individual Army Ethic and means of promulgation, ethical decision-making, and governance. The proposed Ethic replaces and integrates a number of disjointed and disconnected Army artifacts.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 22, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA560684
Entities
People
- Clark C. Barrett
Organizations
- United States Army War College