Profession of Arms Essay

Characterizing the regular army as a profession is a widely debated issue. Some attest that the military employs a small cadre of overlords, yet this does non modify the entire life history as a profession. Others are non so kind and keystone a picture of mindless robots simply following orders. The debate rages because it is fundamentally unmanageable to find an absolute definition for a profession. This troublesome assess is further exasperated because the trust of the public ultimately certifies a profession. Nevertheless, the prescript characteristic that remains constant to all professions is that they possess a directive ethic that controls the effective finishing of their expertise.1 The Army constitutes a profession because it possesses an respectable framework that is intrinsically present in spite of appearance the institution. As it relates to a professional ethic, all professions possess a code that governs the virtuous, honorable and legal activities of the ir members.For example, The American Medical Associations Code of Medical moral philosophy holds to the fellow of Hippocrates.2 This curse is Western civilizations expression of the ideal ingest of a physician.3 Lawyers also take an oath of office that anchors them to the respectable devote of their craft. This code of ethics provides parameters for lawyers on how they should conduct their affairs and matters ranging from client confidentiality to fight of interest.4 Similarly, all members of the United States Army swear or affirm an oath upon initial entry. The Oath of Enlistment or the Oath of Office mark the beginning of each Soldiers military service and their committal to a higher ethic. This oath is the bedrock of the Soldiers moral and legal principles. The Army Values, the Soldiers Creed and the Warrior Ethos exemplify the top of the inning of the Armys organizational ethic. Some might argue that m any organizations have a similar ethic, yet they are not a profess ion. Why are athletic teams that incorporate and enforce team rules, not considered professions?Another issue concerning the Army professions ethical barometer stems from comments made by sr. Army officials like General Maxwell Taylor, the fifth Chairman of the phrase Chiefs of Staff. According to him, as long as a man performed his occupation hewas fine. For GEN Taylor, a good Soldier, even a good Officer, could be a bad man.5 What these dissentions fail to consider is that the Army, or any profession, does not singularly apply its ethic to the daily living of its members. Concerning the members of an athletic organization, it must be understood that one does not ethically hit, decease or throw a ball. Athletes do not apply ethical guidelines in the performances of their sports. Conversely, GEN Taylor fails to realize how private character affects the ability to command troops. wiz cannot compartmentalize the ethic of professionals into private and public sectors. Professiona ls apply their ethic to the application of their craft on behalf of the society they serve.6 Soldiers, like all members within a profession, must exercise their ethic in the execution of their work, not just in their private lives. Although, a universal criterion to qualify a particular vocation as a profession is difficult to quantify, the possession of a guiding ethic is common to all professional definitions. The Army is a profession because throughout its ranks it has continued to operate within the ethical framework it has set forth for itself. The Army, as a profession, demonstrates not solely that it possesses ethical cannon, but is committed to operating by it. The Army Values, the Soldiers Creed and the Warrior Ethos are the natural outpouring of these ethical cannon. Regardless of these facts, it remains unique to a profession that they cannot simply admit themselves a profession.7 The public reserves the right to determine so. Americans will only continue to regard the Army as a profession establish on our effective and ethical application of landpower.8 Despite many ethical failings, the American people recognize that the Army possesses the courage to hold its members ethically accountable and therefore legitimize itself as a profession of arms.BibliographyPbs.org,. NOVA The Hippocratic Oath Today. perish modified 2014. Accessed September 12, 2014. http//www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/hippocratic-oath-today.html. Robinson, Paul. Ethics educational activity And Development In The Military. Ebook. 1st ed., 2007. Accessed September 11, 2014.http//strategicstudiesinstitute.army.mil/pubs/parameters/Articles/07spring/robinson.pdf. Training and school of thought Command, An Army White Paper The Profession of Arms, 8 December 2010, 2. http//www.benning.army.mil/armor/content/PDF/Profession%20of%20Arms%20White%20Paper%208%20Dec%2010.pdf U.S. Department of the Army. The Army Profession. Army Doctrine and Training Publications 1. Washington, DC U.S. Departm ent of the Army, June 13, 2013. Accessed September 11, 2014. http//armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/adrp1.pdf. YourDictionary.com,. Code Of Ethics Examples. Last modified 2014. Accessed September 11, 2014. http//examples.yourdictionary.com/code-of-ethics-examples.html.