The Army Values Of Soldiers And Armed Forces

Army Regulation 600-100 was officially adopted in 1995 as The Army Values. The seven values Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage are enforced that all Soldiers are to live them daily in everything they do, on or off duty. Soldiers should always follow The Army Values because they show professionalism by keeping the highest possible discipline when executing their duty. Most people assume making encouraging decisions, developing substantial relationships, and being able to adapt to situations makes a great leader. Although that may be true, the person is important as well and how that person carries themselves have a big effect on developing others throughout their career.

One of The Army Values that correspond most to my own personal code of ethics is Loyalty. To me Loyalty goes hand and hand with trust, which is the bedrock of the Army Profession. Besides the trust within the service while fighting alongside your battles down range or simply during a training exercise we must maintain that same confidence and credibility from our own American people. True Loyalty builds a cohesive team because they trust and are completely honest with one another. They all share a common goal not because they have to but because they need to hold one another accountable to deliver their share of duty to make sure the mission is a complete success. Everyone has heard of the saying ' A dog is a man's best friend.' This to me defines Loyalty because for centuries they have served in roles as a companion, a protector and a helper. Canines and humans have created a coactive relationship because they need us to survive and we need them almost as much. As a leader I believe knowledge and empathy shows Soldiers and other subordinates that they can be comfortable enough to come to me with a situation. Hoping to steer them in the right direction to an answer or at least help them understand the problem. You don’t have to know the answers to everything but being able to partially guide them to one counts just as much.

Another Army Value that corresponds most to my own personal code of ethics is Selfless Service. The Army Value Selfless Service to me makes me think of something bigger than myself. Think of the lives of others I serve beside, my family, and the American people I train to protect. As a leader I show this value everyday by leading Soldiers. Lead them by using my best judgment to make the most appropriate decision when in need of guidance from me. I also develop Soldiers so that they can constantly enhance their mental and physical skills to partake in making the Army more sufficient. In addition, to what Selfless Service may mean to me I find that it may also correlate with the term Servant Leadership. I say this because the main purpose of a Servant Leader is to serve and ensure nothing else but the development of their unit or organization.

In Regimental history there was a three year war between the United Kingdom and the United States along with their individual allies. This war had a span from June 1812 to February 1815, thus calling it the War of 1812. This was no ordinary war because during this conflict there was an American General named William Hull who guarded Fort Detroit in Michigan with his two thousand man army. Devastating as it may seem General Hull surrendered Fort Detroit to the British without putting up a fight. Which increased the raids of the British on American territory. This act of cowardice that General Hull showed presented a lack of Personal Courage, Duty and Honor. I chose these three Army Values to represent the decision that was made by the General because Personal Courage means to have the ability to face your fear in any dangerous or challenging situation. Duty was another Army Value that I chose to define his decision because it means to have a responsibility that is required of you cause of one's position , always legally or morally. Lastly, Honor also takes place because General Hull did not show Honor to the American people when he folded as soon as he came face to face with the enemy. He did not show any one of these three Army Values. Some may disagree an say that General William Hull might have in fact showed a bit of Personal Courage and Selfless Service exemplifying heroism. They may say this only to state that he surrendered Fort Detroit because he seen a large size of British and Indian forces surrounding the posts walls. Also, that he was accompanied by his grandchildren and daughter inside the fort. To mitigate the lives of his family and troops he simply waved the white flag. In this exact situation I would have not surrendered. I would tell my troops to defend the line till our very last breath to defeat the enemy or at least try. Giving up would never be an option, to die with dignity and honor defending our post to ensure the safety of our American people.

In conclusion, all seven of The Army Values are essential to becoming not only a great Soldier but also a great leader. The two that most correspond to my own personal code of ethics were Selfless Service and Loyalty. I can say I apply this daily in life while on and off duty. Even though some people have made cowardice decisions during our Regimental history, be the change and show heroism living up to the Army Values while you serve.