1. United States Army Combined Arms Center
The US Army as a Military Profession
Command and General Staff College
(CGSC) Ethics Symposium (5-8 May, FLKS)
Center for the Army Profession and Ethic (CAPE)
6 May 2014
Mission Command Center of Excellence
Center for Army Profession and Ethic
As of:
This briefing is: Unclassified / FOUO

2. The U.S. Army as a Military Profession (After a Decade plus of War, and During a Defense Reduction) for CGSC Ethics Symposium Ft. Leavenworth, KS May Don M. Snider, PhD An older Soldier

3. The Military Profession
Discussion Agenda
The Army as a Military Profession
The Army’s New Doctrine of Profession
The Army’s Professional Ethic
The Current “Values to Virtues” Gap

4. The Military Profession
BLUF from Snider
The Army is not a profession because it says so! Profession is not even the default character of the Army.
Captains, Majors, Sergeants, and Army Civilians cannot make the Army a military profession; but they must do their part.
Primarily the Stewards must make the Army a profession – COLs, GOs, SESs, and SGMs
Professions are quintessentially human, and therefore moral institutions of expert work; using individual moral judgments!
We have a “Values to Virtues” Gap; and, Beware: Builddowns bureaucratize!!

5. How can I be a Professional… if there is no Profession?
The Military Profession
How can I be a Professional… if there is no Profession?
(an Army Major, 1999)

6. The Military Profession
What professions do…
Provide a vital service to the society which it cannot provide for itself, but must have to flourish…
Work with expert (abstract) knowledge developed into human expertise… not routine or repetitive work…takes years of study and experiential learning…
Earn and maintain the Trust of their society by the effective and ethical application of their expertise…the means of social control is the Ethic…
Are, therefore, granted relative autonomy in the application of their art and expertise...

7. The Military Profession
Army Chronology
14 June 1775 – the American Continental Army
4 July 1776 – Declaration of Independence
15 November 1777 – Articles of Confederation
17 September 1787 – The Constitution
– The U.S Army professionalized
In 2014: years an Army; 122 years a military profession

8. Three Logics of Production
The Military Profession
Three Logics of Production
The Army is an info-age, producing organization… the human expertise of modern land combat… “the design, generation, and support of the ethical application of landpower…”
All production ideally is organized under one of three logics:
The market of free, unregulated competition where consumer choice determines services, products, and prices.
A bureaucracy of planned, supervised, controlled work focused on predictability and efficiency.
A profession of workers with specialized knowledge who organize and control their own work based on a trust relationship with their client(s).

9. Negotiated Jurisdictions of The Army Profession, 2014
The Military Profession
Negotiated Jurisdictions of The Army Profession, 2014
“Deter and Assure” Forward
“Sustain” CT Operations
“Decisively Defeat” and
“Deny”
“Defend the Homeland”
External
Internal
Develop Expert Knowledge
Develop Future Professionals with Expertise
Military- Technical
Moral-Ethical
Political- Cultural
Human/Leader
Development

10. Profession vs. Bureaucracy
The Military Profession
Profession vs. Bureaucracy
Expert knowledge vs. Non-expert knowledge
Accepts life-long learning vs. “You develop me”
New situations vs. Routine situations
“Practice” by humans vs. Work done by (all)
Unlimited personal liability vs. Little personal liability
Invests in humans first vs. SOPs; soft/hard ware
Measure – effectiveness vs. Efficiency
Trust relationship w/client vs. Public market
Granted some autonomy vs. Closely supervised
Develops worldview vs. None inherent
Maintain ethos, self-policed vs. Externally imposed
Intrinsic motivations vs. Extrinsic motivations
A life-long “calling” vs. A job

11. A Quintessential Act of Professional Practice
The Military Profession
A Quintessential Act of Professional Practice
Based on his/her expert knowledge...
A member of the profession who is facing a new situation or task…
Classifies the task (estimate/diagnosis), reasons about it (inferring from abstract knowledge applicable to the new task/situation), and then acts on it (execution/action).
Follows the action, evaluating it for effectiveness and, ultimately, adaptations to...
The profession’s body of expert knowledge and its jurisdiction of expert work
The “practice”… the repetitive exercise of discretionary judgment, action, and follow-up… all decisions with high moral content

12. The Military Profession
Why Do We Care?
Professions offer two unique characteristics to the nation that bureaucratic organizations do not:
Expert Knowledge
Professions create and expand expert knowledge while,
Bureaucracies (and businesses) apply the knowledge that professions have developed and discarded.
Social Control
Professional ethics develops the most powerful means of controlling individual behavior in large groups that are functioning under ambiguous, chaotic and dangerous circumstances, such as war.
Bureaucratic controls, usually based on promotion and monetary rewards, have limited ability to control people in these situations.
Development of Soldiers and leaders who can make the right choices, and act on them effectively, during the heat of battle are essential to a successful American Army.

13. The Military Profession
To be a Steward of the profession’s knowledge as well as its ethical and effective practice…
“When we first went there, we thought we would have a conventional fight, ….We had a conventional fight, which turned quickly into an insurgency that was compounded by terrorism … We were surprised by the changing tactics that we saw. We had no idea about the irregular aspect we were about to face. We didn’t recognize this was a possibility. And when we did recognize this, it took us too long to adjust.”
General Ray Odierno, interview with Army Times, 19 September, 2011

14. Discussion Agenda The Army Profession
The Army as a Military Profession
The Army’s New Doctrine of Profession
The Army’s Professional Ethic
The Current “Values to Virtues” Gap

15. The Army Profession Campaign (2011)
Army Chief of Staff’s Guiding Questions
The time is right to ask ourselves:
1. What does it mean for the Army to be a Profession?
2. What does it mean to be a professional?
3. After nine years of war (as of October 2010), how are we as individual professionals and as a profession meeting these aspirations?
The Army Profession Campaign (2011) was a US Army effort internally initiated to look critically at itself, as directed by the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army
The Army Profession Campaign (2011) was not in reaction to any one incident or issue
The US Army has performed exceptionally well during the decade of war, meeting and exceeding its Nation’s call
Demonstrated great strengths in adaptability of young leaders and dedication to service through multiple deployments
Also struggled in some areas to maintain the highest standards of the profession
Self-reflection is what effective professions do and a natural part of the US Army’s culture – “After Action Review”

16. The Army Profession

17. Current State of Trust The Army Profession LEVEL STATEMENT RESPONSE
INDIVIDUAL/GROUP
“I trust other members of this unit/org”
67% Agree
“I can trust my subordinates to fully support my directive”
“The Army allows candid opinions without fear of repercussions”
25% Agree
“People can make an honest mistake without ruining their career”
40% Agree
ORG/INSTL
“The Army no longer demonstrates that it is committed to me as much as it expects me to be committed”
40% Agree
“When an Army Senior Leader says something, you can believe it is true”
20% Disagree
PUBLIC
“Trust elected and appointed civilian officials to do what is best for the Army”
38% Disagree
“Members of the Army have a great deal of respect for media”
13% Agree

18. Army Profession Campaign
The Army Profession
Army Profession Campaign
Conclusions
1. No doctrine exists for the Army Profession
2. Cultural dysfunction exists; not living the Army Values
3. Significant lack of confidence in leader competence and candor, a trust issue
4. Certification systems lack rigor and credibility
5. Professional military education undervalued and underutilized
6. Too much variance in standards and basic discipline
7. Some personnel policies are outdated and don’t support career needs

19. What We Learned During the 2011-12 Campaign
The Army Profession
What We Learned During
the Campaign
CG TRADOC, as the chair of the AP Executive Committee IAW the SA/CSA designation of TRADOC to lead the AP campaign, approved the essential characteristics of the Army Profession in August 2011.
The 37th CSA had directed to bring forth these characteristics for decision in support of other on-going Army initiatives such as the OER revision.
These essential characteristics are being included in the ADP 1 update (draft/pre-decisional):
Trust. Shown as a capstone in the figure, is the bedrock of our relationship with and service to the American people. Our first commitment as a profession is to preserve this sacred trust. We do this by ensuring that we uphold the remaining five essential characteristics in everything we do, every day, and in every location where we serve.
Trustworthiness. Internal to the Army, trust serves as a vital organizing principle necessary for us to function as an effective and ethical profession worthy of the trust of the American people. Our commitment is to sustain strong bonds of trust throughout the Army Profession – trust among Soldiers; trust between leaders and Soldiers; trust between Soldiers and Army Civilians; trust between Soldiers, their Families and the Army.
Military Expertise. Our military expertise as a profession is “the effective and ethical design, generation, support, and application of land combat power.” This is our unique contribution to the defense of our Nation. Our commitment is to continually advance our expert knowledge and skills in land combat power.
Honorable Service. We exist as a profession to serve the Nation – to support and defend the Constitution - and to do so in a way that upholds American values and our way of life. This is the heart of our Army ethos. It is the core moral principle that defines what it means to serve honorably in our profession. We are all duty-bound to live daily the Army Values, oaths, creeds and Warrior Ethos that are the basic ethical building blocks of our profession.
Esprit de Corps. To persevere and prevail in war and the adversity inherent in our work requires spirited, dedicated professionals who are bonded together by a common purpose to serve the Nation, who share a deep respect for our history and tradition, and who are committed to the highest standards of individual and collective excellence.
Stewardship of the Profession. Stewardship is our special responsibilities to the Army Profession and to the American people. We are responsible and duty-bound to not just complete today's missions, but those of the future, ensuring that our Army Profession is capable of succeeding in whatever missions our Nation gives us. Through stewardship, we are committed developing our human capital, responsibly managing our resources, and policing our Professional ethos to ensure the long term effectiveness of the profession.

20. Professional Certification Criteria
The Army Profession
Professional Certification Criteria
Entry
(Oath of Service)
Entry of Army Volunteers
Initial Certification
Re-Certification
Boundary of Active Service
Members remain “aspiring Professionals” until certified by the institution
Professional status earned once certified by the institution and then revalidated over time
Still influential members of the Army Profession
Serving Professional
Aspiring Professional
Veterans of Honorable Service
Army Retirees
COMPETENCE in Expert Work: The Professional’s work is expert work related to the design, generation, support, and ethical application of landpower; the individual’s competence is to be certified by the Army commensurate with the level of certification granted.
Moral CHARACTER requisite to being an Army Professional : The Army’s expert work creates a moral responsibility to act on behalf of a client rather than self and thus demands a moral character of sacrifice and service to one’s own and the Army’s Duty to the nation.
Resolute COMMITMENT to the Army Profession: By observation and evaluation it is clear that the professional has developed a personal calling requisite to an abiding commitment to effective and honorable service in the Army and to the nation.

21. Army Professional Identities within the new Doctrine
The Army Profession
Army Professional Identities
within the new Doctrine
Military Expert -
Honorable Servant -
Steward of the Profession –
Presenting Questions:
What moral content inheres in each role?
How is that best expressed –Values or moral obligations states as ethical principles?
How effective are the Army’s developmental processes? Are these your identities?

22. Discussion Agenda The Army Ethic The Army as a Military Profession
The Army’s New Doctrine of Profession
The Army’s Professional Ethic
The Current “Values to Virtues” Gap

23. The Purposes of the Army’s Ethic
The Army Ethic
The Purposes of the Army’s Ethic
Protects American society from exploitation by military’s monopoly of coercive power
Distinguishes the profession from the remainder of the society
Provides internal guidance necessary for professional status, the legitimacy of the Army profession:
Individual moral actions by members of the profession
Institutional behavioral norms for the Army Profession, internally and externally
Basis for moral development of Army Professionals
The Army Ethic:
Informs and inspires Army Professionals in making right decisions and taking right actions in the conduct of the mission, in the performance of Duty and in all aspects of life.
Drives Character Development and Professional Certification.
Inspires shared professional identity.
Guides the Army Profession in the ethical design, generation, support, and application of landpower (Honorable Service in defense of the American people)
Motivates Stewardship of the Army Profession.

24. Influences on the Culture and Ethic
The Army Ethic
Influences on the Culture and Ethic
(pause)
And, in concluding the discussion of the ethic, we note once again its purpose (next chart).
Adopted from Anthony E. Hartle, Moral Issues in Military Decision Making (1989)

25. The Framework of the Army Ethic
Legal Foundations
(codified)
Moral Foundations
Army as
Profession
(Values/norms
for performance
of collective
institution)
Legal-Institutional
The U.S. Constitution
Title 5, 10, 32, U.S. Code
Treaties of which U.S. is party
Status of Forces Agreements
Law of Land Warfare
Moral-Institutional
The U.S. Declaration of Independence
Just War Tradition
Army Culture – “Can-do”
Trust Relationships of the Profession
Individual as
Professional
of individual professionals)
Legal-Individual
Oath of:
Enlistment
Commission
Service
U.S. Code – Standards of Exemplary
Conduct
Uniform Code of Military Justice
Rules of Engagement
Soldier’s Rules
Moral-Individual
Universal Norms:
Accepted Human Rights
Golden Rule of Interpersonal Behavior
Creed & Mottos:
Duty, Honor, Country
NCO Creed, Civilian Creed
7 Army Values
Soldiers Creed, Warrior Ethos

26. The Framework of the Army Ethic
Legal Foundations
(codified)
Moral Foundations
Army as
Profession
(Values/norms
for performance
of collective
institution)
Legal-Institutional
The U.S. Constitution
Title 5, 10, 32, U.S. Code
Treaties of which U.S. is party
Status of Forces Agreements
Law of Land Warfare
Moral-Institutional
The U.S. Declaration of Independence
Just War Tradition
Army Culture – “Can-do”
Trust Relationships of the Profession
Individual as
Professional
of individual professionals)
Legal-Individual
Oath of:
Enlistment
Commission
Service
U.S. Code – Standards of Exemplary
Conduct
Uniform Code of Military Justice
Rules of Engagement
Soldier’s Rules
Moral-Individual
Universal Norms:
Accepted Human Rights
Golden Rule of Interpersonal Behavior
Creed & Mottos:
Duty, Honor, Country
NCO Creed, Civilian Creed
7 Army Values
Soldiers Creed, Warrior Ethos
Motivation of Obligation
Motivation of Aspiration

27. The Values to Virtues Gap
Discussion Agenda
The Army as a Military Profession
The Army’s New Doctrine of Profession
The Army’s Professional Ethic
The Current “Values to Virtues” Gap

28. The Values to Virtues Gap
Contradictions
Army Ethic Ideals / Army Profession Practices / Institutional Army Regulations, Policies, Procedures, Practices
We Profess
We Observe
Army Values
Law, Regs, Policy, SOP
Uphold the Army Ethic
Bystander: look the other way
Transformational Leadership
Transactional Leadership
Character, Competence, Commitment
Pragmatism
Needs of the Army
Careerism
Professional Development
"Ticket Punching and Check the Box"
Innovation, Candor, Diversity
Standardization, Tact, Conformity
Honest Mistakes
Zero-Defects
Mission
Appearances
Priorities
Expediency
Assessment (Honest Reflection)
Cursory AAR (Avoid Conflict)
We are Citizen-Soldiers
We are different from Society
Army Profession => Soldier + Army Civilian
Focus => Active Duty

29. The Values to Virtues Gap
Discretionary Judgments under Mission Command: Stages of Moral Processing
Moral Development:
Individual Transformation is Required
Capability, Ownership, & Confidence/Courage
Moral Capacity can be Developed
Leaders can Lead such Transformations
MORAL
RECOGNITION
MORAL
JUDGMENT
MORAL
INTENTIONS
MORAL
ACTION
James Rest (1986)
Sequential Process

30. The Struggle of Moral Motivations
COURAGE
MORAL
ACTION
MORAL
COWARDICE
“THE RIGHT
THING
TO DO”
HONESTY
SELFLESSNESS
PRIDE
EGO
ALTRUISM
GREED
HUMILITY
DECEIT
MORAL DECISION
MORAL
BEHAVIOR
IMMORAL
CHARACTER
STRONGER
WEAKER

31. Developing Authentic Leaders
The Values to Virtues Gap
Developing Authentic Leaders

32. BLUF from Snider The Army Profession
The Army is not a profession because it says so! Profession is not even the default character of the Army.
Captains, Majors, Sergeants, and civilians cannot make the Army a military profession; but they must do their part.
Primarily the Stewards must make the Army a profession–COLs, GOs, SESs, and SGMs
Professions are quintessentially human, and therefore moral institutions of expert work; using individual moral judgments!
We have a “Values to Virtues Gap;” and, Beware: Builddowns bureaucratize!!

33. U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth
Questions
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center and Fort Leavenworth

34. Backup Slides

35. ONLINE TRAINING SUPPORT PACKAGES (TSP)
The Army Profession
ONLINE TRAINING SUPPORT PACKAGES (TSP)
cape.army.mil
2010
Basic Training 7 Army Values Inculcation
2011
7 Army Values Mandatory Annual Unit Training
2012
Company Command First Sergeant Course (CCFSC)
CCFSC
5/3/2019

36. Instructional Products
The Army Profession
Instructional Products
cape.army.mil
AP Pamphlet &
Other Written
Materials
Virtual Simulators
Trust & Respect
Brochure
Digital Applications
Video and Written
Case Studies
Videos

37. The Civil-Military Bargain
The Military Profession
The Civil-Military Bargain
Who controls the military instrument?
What level of influence by the military is acceptable in a liberal society?
What is the appropriate role of the military?
What pattern of civil-military relations best ensures the effectiveness of the military instrument?
Who serves?
Mackubin T. Owens, US Civil-Military Relations After 9/11: Renegotiating the Civil-Military Bargain (2011)

38. The Military Profession
The armed forces of our nation
The information /media/press
The Constitution and elected representatives
The people of our nation
The State
The Players: US Civil-
Military Relations

39. The 6 Critical Issues The Army Profession
Civilian Leaders - Military Leaders (A)
Civilian control at the nexus; “bright lines” or overlap
Policy/Strategy – Asia/Pacific vs. Afghanistan…Iran
Debt, Defense Reductions and DoD budget priorities FY13-18
DoD/Army as Bill Payer; VA, personnel & military health care; modifications to retirements
Army Profession - American Society (B)
Social norms as military values: gay marriage, women in combat, religious expression
Health: suicides, wounded warriors, PTS/TBI; sexual assault
Army Leaders – Jr Officers/Soldiers/Civilians (D)
Army Ethic Eroded… Espoused values vs. Values-in-use, seen in standards, certifications, covenant with Soldiers/families
Can the “Stewards” of the Profession deliver Army 2020 as profession?

40. rest easily with each other.”
The Military Profession
“Democracy and powerful, professional military organizations do not
rest easily with each other.”
Professor Richard Betts, Columbia University, 2007;
author of Soldiers, Statesmen, and Cold War Crisis;
The Irony of Vietnam; and, American Force

41. Internal Organizing Principle
TRUST: The Army’s
Internal Organizing Principle
ADP 1
The Army
ADRP 1
The Army Profession
ADP 6-0
Mission Command
ADP 6-22
Army Leadership
TRUST – THE BEDROCK OF OUR PROFESSION
OUTCOME
Ethical Application of Landpower
ADP 3-0
Unified Land Operation
The Army Profession develops leaders who exercise Mission Command while conducting unified land operations in service of the nation.

42. Human Developmental Domains
The Values to Virtues Gap
Human Developmental Domains
Competence
Intellectual
Military
Physical
Character
Ethical
Spiritual
Social
Mind
Army
Professional
Body
Character
Ethical
Spiritual
Social