Characteristics Of The Army Profession

The United Sates Army formed in 1775 when the need for a militia arose during the Revolutionary War. The necessity for such service is the result of the population’s need for defense and protection. Like many occupations, the Army serves the civilian population’s needs through protection and defense. What makes the Army a true profession though, is a unique set of standards and ethical values that embody each person that accepts the calling to serve for the country. These standards come from five essential characteristics of a profession: expertise, trust, development, values and service. The Soldiers and leaders within the Army profession demonstrate these characteristics every day to the public by defending the nation and protecting their freedom. The civilian population relies on professions to …show more content…
The values that Army professionals live by: loyalty, duty, honor, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage are the attributes that the civilian population see in Army. It is every Soldier’s responsibility to uphold these values every time they put on the uniform. Often times though, the immaturity and thoughtless act taint the Army profession. Cruel and unusual punishment against enemy prisoners of war, sexual harassment/assault complaints against Soldiers, and drug and alcohol related incidents are a few examples of how Soldiers detract from the Army profession.
Service is the last characteristic that the Army Profession White Paper describes. Every profession in the United States provides a specific skillset to serve society. The Army has a duty to provide a noble and honorable purpose of preserving peace and defending the Constitution. The defense of basic human rights is the primary service that the Army provides the civilian population. The Army profession provides this service by deploying to austere environments in an attempt to protect the