Webster’s dictionary defines the word profession as a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill. Many Soldiers would not consider the Army as a profession but a way of life. Some think the word profession belongs to everyday jobs like a plumber, mechanic, or doctor. Dr. Don M. Snider stated “the Army is a profession because of the expert work it produces, because the people in the Army develop themselves to be professionals, and because the Army certifies them as such” (Snider, D. M. 2008). In October 2010, the Secretary of the Army directed the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) to lead an Army wide assessment of the state of the Army Profession. We have been at war as a Country for over a decade and the Army wanted to know how to shape the future of the Army as a profession and the effects the past decade had on our profession. In June 2013 Army Doctrine Reference Publication 1 (ADRP1) “The Army Profession” was released and the website http://cape.army.mil was created. In (ADRP1), it states there are five essential characteristics of the Army Profession, trust, military expertise, honorable service, Esprit de Corps, and stewardship (ADRP1, 2013). Those characteristics is what I think separates a Soldier from a civilian. No one should think that their job or occupation is harder or more important than someone else’s. It takes all kinds of professions to make this country work but the Army could not be as successful as it is today without our professionals teaching, coaching, mentoring and preserving these five characteristics. Trust is the first one of the characteristics and is very important in our profession. Without trust in our profession we could not accomplish anything. In Chapter on... ... middle of paper ... ...ion. When I am old and gray and my grandkids ask me what I did for a living I can hold my head high and say the Army was my profession. References Army Doctrine Reference Publication 1. (June 2013.). CAPE. Retrieved February 2, 2014, from http://cape.army.mil/ Esprit de Corps. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/ John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address. U.S. Inaugural Addresses. 1989. (n.d.). John F. Kennedy: Inaugural Address. U.S. Inaugural Addresses. 1989. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from http://www.bartleby.com/124/pres56.html Profession. (n.d.). Merriam-Webster. Retrieved February 1, 2014, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/ Snider, D. M. (2008). Dissent and strategic leadership of the military professions. Carlisle Barracks, PA: Strategic Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College.
The author of the Army White Paper (2010) says it like this: The Army is an American Profession of Arms, a vocation comprised of experts certified in the ethical application of land combat power, serving under civilian authority, entrusted to defend the Constitution and the rights and interests of the American people. (p. 4) The profession of arms requires expert and unique work that takes many years of study and practice.
This paper will not bore with the definition of a profession. The United States Army is about more than words, it is about action. The action of over 238 years of tradition and service. The Army is a profession. A profession requires its members to adhere to prolonged training and learn specialized skills. A member of a profession must wholly commit himself and his skills to a calling which is entrusted by the public. A profession provides its members with intrinsic value which motivates beyond financial gain. The Army is a higher calling which demands all of these qualities and more.
What makes the Army a subculture? The Army objective is to serve American citizens, to protect United States, protect vital national interests, and to achieve national military responsibilities (United States Army, n.d). The members of the U.S Army share the same objective, which makes them a subculture. Here some background information on the U.S Army. The United States military is consistent of five branches Army, Navy, Air force, Coast Guard, and Marines. Although, there is a lot of similarities between all five of the branches there is also a lot of differences. The United States Army was first known as the Continental Army. The Army was founded in 1775 by the Second Continental Congress in order to go war in the American Revolutionary War (United States Army, n.d). After the war, the Congress of the Confederation established the United States Army on June 3, 1784(United States Army, n.d). They are a land-based military branch. Therefore, the Army performs the majority of their tasks on land. It is the oldest and largest military branch in the United States.
In order to understand a profession, the Army White Paper gives us clear definitions of “The Profession of Arms” . The profession of arms. The Army is American Professional of Arms, a vacation comprised of experts certified in the ethical application of land combat power, serving under civilian authority, entrusted to defend the constitution and the rights and interests of the American people.
In the traditional form of profession, career paths only in the fields of health, justice and education were exclusively recognized as professions. For many years the field of security, specifically, with regards to the Armed Forces was not considered a profession. Not very long ago, the public did not consider the professional Soldier to fall under a profession. The Soldiers characteristics were considered to be closer to those of an occupational professional. However, as time moves forward, the American Soldier exhibits more traits and characteristics of a professional in the realm and space of a profession. That is why the Army is now part of
Obama, Barack. "President Barack Obama's Inaugural Address." The White House. Office of the Press Secretary, 21 Jan. 2009. Web. 5 Apr. 2014.
We are merely servants, here to serve the Soldier and their Family. Soldier’s take pride in the service that they provide. There is a difference between a profession and an occupation. “Organizations motivate their workers through extrinsic factors such as salary, benefits, and promotions” (“Army White Paper”, 2010, p. 2). Meanwhile, a profession consists of expert knowledge, honor of service, pride, dignity, and selflessness.
The question whether the Army is a profession becomes current hot issue to the society. The Army tried to demonstrate its development on profession by reviewing and refreshing the doctrine. However; there are documents that show the disagreement from people and they believe that our military is still inefficient organization when talking about our professional. The purpose of this paper is to support the idea of military is a professional organization. The Army is a profession because of three attributes; its expertise, trust, and values. These three are important keys to achieve and reach the profession.
A profession must have the trust of the people it serves. This is gained through the use of an Ethic that is generated and policed by the profession itself. The Center for Army Profes...
Many soldiers can testify to the fact that it is not just training, situations, or regulations that sets us apart from the average person.
Trust is neither given or gained freely; therefore, one will not trust another until that person had earned their trust through a combination of demonstrating integrity, commitment, understanding, and respect towards another (Garman, Fitz, & Fraser, 2006). One way team members can engender trust through commitment. Individuals need to attempt to honor commitments whenever they can and when they can't, how one handles failed commitments is even more important in building trust. Another way to engender trust is to maintain confidentiality. Confidentiality is imperative for building and sustaining trust and for ensuring open and honest communication.
Introduction An Army White Paper, The Profession of Arms (2010), defines Army Ethic as, “The moral values, principles, and martial virtues embedded in its culture that inspire and regulate behavior by both Soldiers and the U.S. Army in the application of land combat in defense of and service to the Nation” (p.12). Army Values and ethos in the Soldiers Creed, and Creed of the Non Commissioned Officer provide the foundation of Army Ethic. The Army creates and establishes regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines that serve as the basis for controlling the behavior, and administration of the institution. When a standard that contradicts an established policy or regulation occurs, soldiers and leaders must take appropriate action to address the issue. The action taken by a Soldier is living the Army value of duty.
Colonel Malham M. Wakin, in his evening address, asks whether Plato's claim that "knowledge is virtue" is true. Much contemporary experience suggests otherwise. To some extent, such an observation could apply to the military as well. Col Wakin argues that we do have some basic knowledge about human conduct, but that we live in a highly pluralistic society in which some practices reject that basic knowledge. Nonetheless, even though we draw members of the military from that pluralistic society, the uniqueness of the military function will always keep its leading practitioners apart from the mainstream of civilian society. The military profession swears to defend the values, the lifestyle that incorporates the minimal conditions for human dignity. After examining the convergence of the values that are functionally necessary for the military and those that we know are fundamental to social existence, he concludes that a competent military profession can serve as a moral anchor for its parent society.
What is a profession? How is it defined and what is the difference between a job, and a profession? To answer these questions, a sense of understanding needs to be clear, they are not the same. A job is nine to five, go to work, go home, and repeat the next day. A profession is something that is lived, embodied, and held to a superior standard. Once this distinction is set, the examination of Human Resources Sergeants’ role within the Profession can begin. Also, a better understanding of the inherent challenges and goals that go into balancing the roles of leadership. Lastly, the important impact Army Culture has on the Profession of Arms.
“A vision without action is merely a dream.” (Kevin Gates) The Army Profession Model is a great vision but if we do not fixed the basics in our upbringing of Soldiers then it will only be a dream. Imagine a panoramic view of an early morning sunrise over a military base. The sun is starting to burn off the morning dew. Formations of soldiers are starting to pop into the picture. Each soldier is in uniform dress sharp and moving as a single unit. Some formations are double timing moving out. Everyone has a purpose and stepping off to get to his or her next obstacle of the day. All Non-commissioned officers are enforcing nothing less than exceeded standards. Soldiers are toe to line in formations for inspection. Senior Non-commissioned