The Army White Paper: The Profession Of Arms

As a Human Resource (HR) Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) in the Adjutant General Corp (AGC) of the US Army, we often speak of being professional. While coming up in the military, all perspective NCOs are shown the NCO Creed so they can gauge if they have what it takes to be a professional and a member of the Backbone of the Army. While here at ALC, we recite it every morning. Fittingly, the first line starts with, “No one is more professional than I”, and the last line ends with, “we are professionals”. After reading the Army White Paper: The Profession of Arms, it is my intent to explore in this short essay what it means to be a profession, to discuss the balancing role of professional leaders, and touch on the professional culture in

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. I would venture to say this lifelong pursuit of knowledge makes you an expert. The profession of arms is a calling, a calling that unlike other professions, asks its professionals to commit to laying down their life if called upon, and to take life when ordered.

The Balancing Role of the Profession’s Leaders

This was the shortest part of the article, but one that is critical for the profession of arms to continue and meet its future missions. Strategic leaders like sergeants, majors, colonels, and generals, must balance the present environment with what may happen in the future, without the help of a crystal ball. This balancing act is critical for the Army to have the capabilities to meet the needs of the nation, however, the balancing act is not complete until the Army’s culture and its institutional practices are aligned. What that means is the Army’s institutional values must continue to reflect the diverse culture of the

I will, however, try to give the essence of it instead. The Army’s culture is “the body and soul” (TRADOC, 2010, p. 9) of the organization. It is the shared values and practices that shape all Soldiers and inspire future Soldiers to join, and for current members to perfect their craft. Better said, to move from novice to expert – a professional. While the Army culture is the body and soul, then the heart of the Army is its ethics. This institutional ethics is the bedrock that each professional must anchor himself in order to have moral legitimacy and trust of the people they serve. The moral legitimacy is the only thing that can give our profession of arms its legitimate claim to use coercive and often deadly