Charles C. Moskos Profession Of Arms

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.

“For the Common Defense, a military history of the United States from 1607-2012” is a military historic book written by Allan R. Millet, Peter Maslowski, and William B. Feis. Millet is a historian and a retired colonel of the Marine Corps. Maslowski is a professor at the University of Nebraska. Feis is a professor at Buena Vista University. This book was published in September 2012. It focuses on chronologically describing the changes of the United States military for over 400 years. Even though that is the main purpose, it does include political information. Although this book does not have an exact thesis, its purpose is to inform readers of the creation and enhancements of the US military. At almost 700 pages, this book educates about

In the thirty years after the War of 1812, the United States gradually and painstakingly developed its army from a nascent confederation of independent state militiamen, volunteers, and a disproportionately smaller group of regular soldiers into a corporate body of professionals with seemingly common standards of training, doctrine, and, arguably, discipline. Referred to as the “Thirty Year’s Peace,”

The NCO took responsibility for the care and training of Soldiers and provided direction (Headquarters US Army Training and Doctrine Command, 2002, pp. 1-3 and 1-4). The NCOs taking responsibility allowed for the development of professional military educational systems. The professional military education systems led to the increased professionalism of the United States Army. The professionalism attained, maintained and the trust earned has created an American Profession of Arms. The report An Army White Paper: The American Profession of Arms defined Profession of Arms as “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 right and interest of the American people” (p.4).

The military has always been an integral part of U.S. history. It dates back to 1775, even before the Declaration of Independence. The United States Armed forces currently has five branches of service; Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard. This essay seeks to take a closer look at the United States Army and the United States Navy, which are the two largest branches. A comparison of their history, mission and the transition of its members back to civilian life will shed some light on how similar but different these two branches are. Although the overall goal of all branches of the Armed Forces is to protect the United States of America’s borders and interests, each branch has a unique history and specific mission in accomplishing this.

The demographic profile of the all volunteer United States Military has changed dramatically over the last 20 years. The transformation that has occurred in the United States population do not always reflect the changes in the Army's demographical environment. Today's Armed Forces is more

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.

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

Stewardship of the Army Profession is the last of the Five Essential Characteristics of the Army Profession, but in terms of importance, it is just as, if not more important than the other four. The United States Army’s ADRP-1, or Army Doctrinal Reference Publication 1, even defines stewardship as “the responsibility of Army professionals to ensure the profession maintains its five essential characteristics now and into the future”. Such importance is placed on this characteristic because Stewardship of the Army Profession is the one that ensures the other four are maintained. I sought out the definition of stewardship because despite having spent almost three and a half years and West Point, I was not entirely sure what the doctrine behind Stewardship was. In doing this, I felt like I was better prepared for both this paper and ensuring that the corrections I made were stewarding the profession. With this newly acquired knowledge, I set out to make my corrections.

Erving Goffman argues that when an individual enters a total institution, such as the military, he or she undergoes a discipline process that systematically strips each veteran of his or her individuality and agency. The transition is formidable because the military is a total institution with high levels of social integration, regimentation, and social control. Starting with basic training, the military instills in its recruits the idea that they have sacrifice their own agency and individuality for the sake of the larger collective. These admissions procedures strip the recruit of his or her attachment to his or her civilian self. (Goffman, 1961). Goffman is supporting the idea that veterans deeply assimilate and value the military system,

The focal point of my paper will be on the changes in the United States (US) armed forces over the last century. I chose to compare the Buffalo Soldiers, who existed from 1867-1896, and their experiences with the current state of the US armed forces. I was drawn to author, ZZ Packer’s “Buffalo Soldiers” because of my experience in the US armed services and, as I read the book it became clear that the US armed services today is very different from what it was at the time when the Buffalo Soldiers existed. I served honorably in both the United States Air Force and United States Army from 1985-2001, and my experiences are in stark contrast to the experiences of the Buffalo Soldiers.

As the Army transitions from the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, the organization is well served to take a long look in the mirror. After ten plus years of deployments, our combat tested warriors are sure to possess more than enough valuable knowledge to reinforce and improve upon our status as a profession. A TRADOC published paper explains “to be a professional is to understand, embrace, and competently practice the expertise of the profession.” I believe the profession of arms exists and there are many components that reinforce this argument. Among these components, initial entry training and institutional learning, shared values, and a monopoly on our mission are three of the most important tenants. All Soldiers must graduate

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.

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

While formal organizational theories may seem dated, the military has strong roots in its development. German Sociologist Max Weber created a bureaucratic model with five key components that strongly interrelates with military life and structure. In fact, the military was his prototype. The first element of Weber’s theory is that of labor division and functional specialization, where he divides jobs into fixed categories based on competence and functional specialization. In the military, you are placed into a specific