Army Professional Culture

The Army White Paper, The Profession of Arms, provides an insight into what it means for the Army to be a Profession of Arms, what it means to be a professional Soldier, and how Soldiers individually and as a profession meet these aspirations after a decade of war. The Army is made up of numerous jobs that have multiple roles. One in particular is the Human Resource Sergeant. HR Sergeants are a profession of its own; they provide a broader framework for the Profession of Arms, balance the role of the Profession’s leaders, and are greatly influenced by the Army’s professional culture.

A group of strong and honorable individuals that are professionals in the Profession of Arms protects the United States of America. We are professionals because we choose to dedicate our lives to our Nation and its people. All Army professionals meet the Army’s certification criteria of competence, character and commitment. The five essentials characteristics of the Army Profession are trust, military expertise, honorable service, esprit de corps and stewardship of the profession. By having these characteristics and practicing them in our daily lives, we have earned the trust of our leaders, peers, subordinates and the citizens of our nation.

In the United States Army we are taught to live by the Seven Army Values. They are broken down to us in the acronym ‘LDRSHIP’ which is short for Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. We are all taught these 7 Army values repeatedly from day one in the United States Army. First we memorize these values. Then we are trained to live by them. All of these 7 values coincide with each other, and play an important roll in our Army lives. These 7 Army Values also play well into life outside the Army in our personal life. People sometimes do not realize the importance these values have on the way we are viewed by the people who look up to the men and woman who are privileged enough to represent the

In conclusion, the direction of the Army will advance forward in a professional manner that reflects a Profession in Arms and a Professional Soldier. I believe that understanding the importance of what it means for the Army to be a Profession of Arms and what it means to be a professional Soldier displays respect and pride in the eyes of the American People. This respect and pride re-enforces trust and continues to build hope for the

Army leaders must balance the link between the Army’s culture and it’s climate and institutional practices. When there is a proper balance it has a huge impact on the mindset of the Army’s Soldiers. Their actions or inactions impacts the five key attributes of the profession, and the four fields of expertise, and have long term effects on the Army’s culture and climate. These actions influence Soldiers’ perceptions that they are serving professional who have answered the call of service to the republic, it is important that Soldiers understand that their role is a calling and not just a job.

The main idea of this publication is to create a collective understanding of the Army Profession by providing the Service members the guidelines and definitions of it and the Army Ethic. Fail to follow or even understand the concept of rules of behavior based on ideas about what is morally good and bad have been the reason of studies, due to the consequences this could bring upon the service. This publication defines the membership and affiliation of competent individuals in character and commitment, five essential characteristics legitimize the Army as a military profession, trust, military expertise, honorable service, spirit de corps, and stewardship. Trust is vital in society at school, at work, at home, among the citizens, trust in the skills of those you depend on, and trust that the mail will be deliver to your home to give an example. American people perhaps have lost or are close to lose the trust in the highest level of government being this the direct orchestrator of the actions perform by the armed forces, after planning and rehearsals every move is directed and now that the population does not support or agreed with many of these actions government has to act to regain the support and reassurance of the masses. American people as society trust their arm forces to perform their duty to protect them and their country, support and defend the constitution society trust the strongest Army in the world due to the technology it possess and the will soldiers have

A Profession of Arms. It is a title that the United States Army currently holds. A Profession that is uniquely separates us based on the lethality of our weapons and operations. Many factors are involved that make what we do in the Army a Profession and not just a job or an occupation. To maintain this idea that what we do is a Profession takes understanding what a Profession is, a tenuous balance by leadership and the culture of the professionals within. As a Human Resource Sergeants, we do not carry the Arms that grant us our lethality, yet we still have a vital role within this Profession of Arms.

Being a profession isn’t a title that is just given but earned by being an expert, adapting constantly, and maintaining the approval of the client (which are the American people) in the job that is set forth in and out of battle. As long as trust and effectiveness are maintained as a Profession of Arms, the title as a profession will continually be in the eyes of the people. All this is possible by the Army to continually learn in the process to do the job efficiently just as a doctor is continually learning from patient to patient.

The word “profession” can often mean different things to different people. At its core, “profession” is a strong indicator of both expertise and trust. In an article entitled “What is a Profession?” the author states “A profession is a self-selected, self-disciplined group of individuals who hold themselves out to the public as possessing a special skill derived from education and training and who are prepared to exercise that skill primarily in the interests of others” (Klass, 1961). I believe this quote, without purpose, has effectively described the Army profession. Army Soldiers have chosen a profession which requires them to make the ultimate sacrifice, preparing to give their life in the service of their country. The dedication, expertise, and moral fortitude required to enlist into such a dangerous profession is what separates the Army from all others.

I have never thought of the Army as not being a profession of arms. To me it has always been one in the same, but as we look back in history, we see that it has not always been that way. It was that only Officers and Warrant Officers were the only ones in the Army considered professionals. Noncommissioned Officers (NCO) were looked at more in the light of being worker bees or blue-collared workers and not professionals. As time has moved on, we see the perception of the NCO Corps and the Army as a whole has changed to show that all who serve in the Army are professionals.

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

The means or in which a man gains his livelihood (1 “Webster’s dictionary”) should be one of the most important things in a man’s life. It is often overlooked on yourself but always noticed by others. The method of how a man should conduct himself in pursuit of a profession is professionalism. It is a roughly defined word which means it is often misused. First there are a set of guidelines about professionals which apply in all realms, Second professionalism has deep roots in military history as well as its hero’s, and lastly there are many ways professionalism is related to the recon community in particular.

Culture of a nation is manifested and influenced by a number of factors. National psyche and traits being the most pronounced ones. Military culture , to a certain extent , is in harmony with the national culture, however, it has its own impulses and dynamics. It incorporates obedience that curtails individual freedom or at times it may be at tangent with the socio-cultural values of a society ; Military culture of British – Indian Army ,as inherited by us is a case in point here. Philosophy of our present military outlets draws strength from history , organisational infrastructure , uniform , traditions social moorings and a host of other factors which , despite numerous changes , is still undergoing the process of evolution.

A profession is not a normal job. Individuals who dedicate themselves to a profession are choosing to become experts in a field that requires years of study, practice, and experience. Professions are allowed the freedom of autonomy or self-regulation. They offer a service to the American people that is not readily available or easily imitated. The United States military offers the service of security in the best interest of the people (“The Army White Paper,” 2010). The American people trust that the military will create their regulations and policies consistent with the ethics and values that they expect.

The term professional has always been loosely associated with the Army since its official organization in 1775. The title of Army professional in the past was restricted to only the officer ranks discarding Soldiers and the Non-Commissioned Officers. The fluctuating opinions of the professional Army was mostly due to social definitions of a professional, and the Army’s ability to meet its criteria. The Army is a profession because it requires specialized skills and human expertise, establishes ethical behavior for its members, and contain members who embrace and are stewards of the culture.