Military Code Of Conduct Analysis

1805 Words4 Pages

THE HISTORY OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT

USAACE

NCOA

SSG Beau W. Beck

15TSLC

17-002

SFC Maradol

This paper offers an overview of the military Code of Conduct. An explanation of the lay out and a historical overview of how military service members handled themselves prior to the implementation of an official Code of Conduct. An understanding of the progression of harsh tactics being used by enemy combatants which will show a need for the creation and implementation of the Code of Conduct. Also discussed are documents that lead up to the creation the military Code of Conduct and how it has been amended to apply to US service members today. Additionally incorporated is information that will show how its practical implementation …show more content…

During the Korean War a total of 7,190 Americans were Captured by the enemy. 6,656 were Army troops, 263 were Air Force,
231 were Marines; 40 were Navy personal. The Army carried the heaviest burden of prisoner losses. The captives were marched off to various prison camps in North Korean. Altogether there were 20 of these camps. (Armed Force Information And Education 1955). During the POWs time in the camps they were miss treated worse than any prisoner had been treated before. They used different techniques such as torture, indoctrination, and propaganda to break down the beliefs of the soldiers. One of the ways they used propaganda was in 1952 they had the POW Olympics held in North Korea. For 12 day in November, approximately 500 prison athletes from Britain, South Korea, Australia, Turkey, and the U.S Competed against other camps mirroring the World Olympics. The POWs competed in events SUCH AS baseball, boxing, and track and field. This effort was publicized just to show the world how well the US prisoner were treated. They also used torture to break down the chain of command in the camps which had never been done before. They would make them read newspapers from the Korean government to other prisoners and have long discussion on politics to sway them from their beliefs. In doing this when it was time for the prisoners to be repatriated 21 of them didn’t want to return home and have …show more content…

So, they may wonder why they receive training on the 6 articles. It is to their advantage that they adhere to the articles and apply them in a captive situation. Maj. Donna Miles USAR stated in an on line news article that, “Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Durant said he couldn't have recited its six articles but clearly understood the spirit of the code and let it govern his actions when he was taken captive in October 1993 in Mogadishu, Somalia” In that same article she quoted him as having said, “Durant said, the Code of Conduct and the high standard of behavior it demands helped him through those difficult days. "It's important to know what's in it and what you should and should not do, and to live by it and up to it," he said. CWO3 Durant isn’t the only former POW to have claimed that adhering to the Code of Conduct served them during their time behind enemy lines. Another example stated by Maj. Donna Miles is Air Force Capt. Scott O’Grady. His story is the basis for the movie Behind Enemy Lines, he said the Code of Conduct gave him the will to drive on and evade capture for six days after his F-16 fighter was shot down in 1995.” I knew it was my duty to survive," he said, adding that the code reminded him that, although alone behind enemy lines, "I was still part of a team working to get me out, and I had to do my

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