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The importance of ethical leadership to an organization
Why ethical leadership is important
The importance of ethical leadership to an organization
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The history of Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller is not well known outside of the U.S. Marine Corps, but as the most decorated marine in history his legend will live on and continue to inspire the marines of tomorrow. The enlisted corps has idolized him, frequently encouraging one another to do that last push up when motivated by fellow marines saying “Do one for Chesty!” The purpose of this essay is to demonstrate that Chesty, using current day leadership theories, was a visionary and ethical leader who exemplified the characteristics that our nation’s military needed during World War II and still needs today. I will explain how he embodied some principles of Full Range Leadership Development that are taught today. Then I will describe how he demonstrated his ethical leadership through combat actions when faced with general military ethics situations. Finally, I will examine how my own leadership abilities, though noncombat focused, compare to how Chesty led his marines. Let’s begin by exploring the visionary leadership that Lt Gen Puller exhibited. Lieutenant General Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller, through dedication to his mission and the welfare of his marines, was a visionary leader even by today’s standards. In his youth, Chesty attempted to join World War I before he had reached the required age. He attended Virginia Military Institute, but dropped out after one year to satisfy his urge to experience combat. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private and remained enlisted for only a year before his commissioning as a lieutenant. Unfortunately, the war ended before he was able to experience combat. When a force reduction ensued after the end of the war, Lt Puller was sent to the reserves and given the ... ... middle of paper ... ...played an excellent model of military ethics. Finally, I showed how my leadership decisions, although not combat related, bear some similarity in vision and ethics to Chesty’s standard, as set seven decades earlier. I can think of no better leader for today’s officers, both commissioned and noncommissioned, to emulate than the most decorated and idolized marine in history. References Hoffman, John T., Lt Col. CHESTY. Random House, New York and Toronto (2001). LM01, Ethical Leadership. (2012). Maxwell Gunter AFB. Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education (AETC) CF02,Full Range Leadership Development. (2012). Maxwell Gunter AFB. Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education (AETC) The Chesty Puller Paragon: Leadership Dogma. Retrieved February 3, 2014 from http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identPrefix=html&identifier=ADA339492
Black Hearts is a great example of the reality on how severe bad leadership skills can ripple throughout a unit and impact its overall mission. This book serves as a guide for future leaders of America and will set the examples of what not to do in leadership positions. The lessons we can take from these soldiers can help us as potential leaders to become more competent and effective. The fact that this book focused on the hardships, poor decisions and sound judgment of the soldiers it helped emphasize on what was not the best choice of action and leaves a moment for you as the audience to think how you would of done it better. So right or wrong there was a lesson to be learned and the book did a good job including the reader. This book puts you in the shoes of a small group of soldiers from the 502nd Infantry Regiment and gives you an up close and personal take on the experience of the soldiers, from the bottom of the the ranks all the way up to the commander. 502nd Bravo Company 1st platoon deployed in the fall of 2005 into one of the most dangerous battle zones in Iraq known as the “Triangle of Death”. Thrown into the heartland of a growing insurgency, with undefined goals and a shortage of manpower, Bravo Company began piling up casualties at an alarming rate. They suffered many losses, as well as mental anguish. Because of the long and tragic deployment, a collapse in leadership began to unfold causing one of the most tragic, brutal, and infamous deployments in U.S Army history. There were many reasons that caused the deconstruction of leadership, and eventually, the actions of the soldiers accompanied by the lack of control, lead to the rape and murder of an innocent Iraqi girl and her family. This is a story about character...
Why did he pick the Marines as his topic? Attracted to the Corps perception and morale, Thomas E. Ricks expresses the Marines as the only service still upholding its honor and tradition. Due to society changing into a commercial society with a “me” attitude, civilians focus on how they can splendor themselves with material items—never looking big picture at all that we can accomplish as a team if we give our heart and soul in life. Team meaning everyone on earth, for we are the people that provide for one another with peace and prosperity. As a Marine, it is imperative to have leadership skills along with being capable to work with others. This book was written to enhance the reader’s mentality of how the Marines operate. It informs those who are looking into the service, and provides an in depth look into the trials and tribulations it has been through—as well as conquered.
In A Tactical Ethic, Moral Conduct in the Insurgent Battlespace, author Dick Couch addresses what he believes to be an underlying problem, most typical of small units, of wanton ethical and moral behavior partly stemming from the negative “ethical climate and moral culture” of today’s America (Couch, D., 2010, p. 15). In chapter one, he reveals what A Tactical Ethic will hope to accomplish; that is identify the current ethics of today’s military warriors, highlight what is lacking, and make suggestions about what can be done to make better the ethical behavior of those on the battlefield and in garrison. He touches on some historic anecdotes to highlight the need for high ethics amongst today’s military warriors as well as briefly mentions
The U.S. Military had many great officers during WWII and one of the best was Gen. Omar Bradley. Omar became the soldier he was through hard work, discipline, and patience. If it were not for the traits he possessed he would have never made it to the rank of Captain.
Exemplary performance has always attracted accolades and numerous prices; this gives morale and vigor for everyone to achieve their best. In the disciplined forces, particularly the marine, the service members always receive a major reward that elevates them in rank; this is the medal. This rewards them for their bravery and contribution in the missions they are involved in. Indeed, they contribute a lot to the peace and security of the world at large and they truly deserve these medals for recognition (Tucker, 2011). This has been a practice for the U.S. Marine to issue Corps medals since the Civil War to present day. Among the Corps Medal categories include American Defense Medal-WWII, Armed Forces Civilian Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal among others. Since the Civil War there have been over 120 U.S. Marine Corps Medals. This paper identifies Lieutenant General Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller and describes why he has been one of the most decorated marines in the history of the U.S.
Serving in the Army for the past fifteen years, as a Soldier, Non-Commissioned Officer, Cadet, and Commissioned Officer, I have gained a wealth of military leadership knowledge and experience. Since completing my undergraduate studies and earning my commission in the Army, I have held a variety of command and staff positions. I have led Soldiers in garrison, as well as on combat and operational deployments, each having its own unique challenges and rewards. Throughout the years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of serving on many great teams and with many outstanding Leaders.
While an individual can question the notion of obedience in daily life, this luxury is often not available in the military where the grand goals and aims require smooth internal functioning and hierarchical coordination.Not following orders is not an optional choice that recruits can’t make upon joining the Marine Corps. The act of disobedience is considered to be an infractions and a person who placed himself in such a situation can find himse...
...2006, December 06). Military ethics. Some lessonslearned from Manuel Davenport. Retrieved on April 17, 2011 from http://www.airpower.au.af.mil/airchronicles/apj/apj06/win06/ficarrotta.html. Air& space Power Journal.
During the Vietnam War, the first platoon (approximately forty men) was lead by a young officer named William Calley. Young Calley was drafted into the US Army after high school, but it did not take long for him to adjust to being in the army, with a quick transition to the lifestyle of the military, he wanted to make it his career. In high school, Calley was a kind, likable and “regular” high school student, he seemed to be a normal teenager, having interest in things that other boys his age typically had. He was never observed acting in a cruel or brutal way. In Vietnam, Calley was under direct order of company commander, Captain Ernest Medina, whom he saw as a role model, he looked up to Medina. (Detzer 127).
As a 15-year-old sophomore who had no sense of direction in reference to what he would do with his life other than going to college, I had absolutely no idea where I would go when I built interest and eventually enrolled into my school’s Army JROTC program or Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. Now, a 16-year-old junior still enrolled at his school’s JROTC program had accomplished so much over the course of one school year, including the invitation of speaking at the Youth Assembly of the United Nations, resulting from the leadership characteristics that I had learned as a result of joining the JROTC program. If there is one thing that I had enjoyed learning from being in the JROTC program, it is learning the capabilities and meanings of being a true leader. When I had entered my first semester as a JROTC cadet, I was asked “What do you plan to do while you are here in ROTC?”, I stated in a brief response that I plan to learn how to be a leader so that when I enter the medical field along with entering the military, I can lead my fellow doctors and nurses into giving back to America’s sons and daughters who give and sacrifice so much to preserve our country’s values and true meanings of freedom.
As an ethical leader, this paper will discuss how Jimmy Doolittle’s promoted from lieutenant colonel to brigadier general overnight, found himself in command of an entire Numbered Air Force (NAF). Placed in unfamiliar territory, he displayed intellectual humility by relying heavily on the advice of his staff to educate him in his new command. Furthermore, as the 8th Air Force commander in Europe, he faced a severe shortage in experienced air crews as the operations tempo increased during the build up to D-Day. He faces an ethical dilemma to either follow a direct order from General Hap Arnold or maintain the trust and faith of his men. I used my personal experience to demonstrate how my skills compared to those that Jimmy Doolittle exhibited as a visionary and ethical leader, helping me become a better leader. I will explain that I’ve fallen short of his conceptual team dimension style and how that skill would have helped me solve an Armory inventory issue by finding alternatives for funding. Finally, I’ll show how I demonstrated intellectual humility when my commander made me the Superintendent of Logistics and Readiness, although having no prior experience or knowledge of those sections. Let’s start by rewinding the clock 89 years to the pioneering
Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education. (2017). EL05, Ethical leadership. Maxwell- Gunter Annex, AL: Author.
Martin L. Cook. The Moral Warrior – Ethics and Service in the U.S. Military (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2004) 21.
This paper explores the character development of Army professionals. It starts by exploring the thoughts of General George Washington and his thoughts on character within the military. General George Washington believed Character was essential to the success of the military. It continues on by explaining why character is important to Army professionals. Character enables trust to grow within the military strengthening the Army as a whole. The paper then moves on to explore traits that make up an individual’s character. Those traits relate to the military in the form of the Army Values. Living up the Army Values is a baseline for developing good character traits and habits. If you’re not following the Army Values then your exhibiting poor character traits and going against the core values essential to military service. Lastly this paper explores character development within the three levels of Army leadership. This section highlights the role of character development within the strategic, organizational, and direct leadership levels.
It doesn’t matter if I have honor and courage if I’m not committed to the fight then those qualities are being wasted. In fact, if we don’t stay committed then we are guaranteed to lose the fight. There would be no point in rules and regulations if no one was committed to seeing them implemented and enforced. Without commitment the whole system of the navy’s core values would unravel in an instant. Commitment is the core value responsible for ensuring that we choose to act with honor and courage in the adverse situations that life presents.