Military Professionalism

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.

Professionals from various fields work together to build a structurally sound foundation that cannot be shaken. This foundation is the cornerstone on which the Profession of Arms relies. The Army’s professional expertise are rallied in four branches: military-technical expertise, human development expertise, moral-ethical expertise and political-cultural expertise. They are broad areas that allow the Army to operate as a force.

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

What is the importance of professionalism? First, we must answer another question. What is professionalism? Professionalism is most commonly describe as acting like a professional. A professional is defined " characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession : exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace."[merriam-webster.com]

“We are the American Army, we are American Soldiers, and the uniqueness shapes our soul, both institutionally and individually!” (p. 06). A Profession is having effectiveness outweigh efficiency in the work that you do. To be an American Profession of Arms you must first be comprised of professionals, professionals who are both ethical as well as leaders. With these professionals, we create a profession based on expertise and skill. Our profession as Soldiers, relies on upholding the army values and the culture we create to guide and enforce the right things to do.

The PoA white paper defines the Profession, more specifically, the Profession of Arms, by calling it “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 rights and interests of the American people.” (U.S. Army Combined Arms Center. Center for the Army Profession and Ethic. United States. Army Training and Doctrine Command, 2010, p. 7). In order to belong to this exclusive organization, Soldiers must possess certain key attributes. This will help carry the Profession for years to come. In the Profession of Arms, Soldiers must be willing to embrace the four key attributes (Development, Expertise, Service, and Values). This is necessary in order to establish “trust,” the most important attribute to ensure the livelihood of the Army as an institution. Our profession, in order to exist, must absolutely establish trust, not only within its ranks, but also with the Soldiers’ families and with other civil institutions, something that should be front and center in the development of our future

Being a Profession of Arms can be defined in array of different definitions. Many variables can dictate how to be professional and how not to be. The Army’s culture is the underlining way Soldiers are lead into becoming a Profession of Arms. Each unit throughout the Army are equipped with different specialties that impact how being a Profession of Arms in displayed not only internally but externally. What it means to be a Profession

In a world of doctors, lawyer, scientists, and corporate executives how can the U.S. Army be regarded as a profession? The answer to the question might lie within the concept of the basic branches of the Army, and the specialized skills and equipment that set them apart from one another. This question might also be answered by examining the concept of putting untrained, well-armed, militia through a warfighter exercise, and comparing the results versus some so called Army professionals. One can look back in history, and examine the foundation and formation of the United States Army to garner a better understanding of it as a profession. Though these concepts are not all inclusive they will help to better understand why the Army is considered a profession by many, yet questionable by others.

According to the “Profession of Arms” handbook, the crucial five key attributes of the profession (organizational level) and the Army professional (individual level) are closely linked together and the goal is that once in the profession a soldier evolves into a true professional of this humble occupation. The first key attribute of the profession is Expertise that evolves into Skill. The second one is Trust. The third key attribute is Development that evolves into Leadership. From my personal experience, the Army shapes exceptional leaders through ongoing training and advancement opportunities within the organization. The fourth element consists of the army values that shapes the character of the soldiers. And last but not least, the service which evolves into the intrinsic duty that a true soldier fells to serve and defend his/her country (The Profession of Arms,

The purpose of this assignment is to explain how the US Army plans to develop the character of its Soldiers while also instilling professionalism. The US Army has moved on from the days of old where non-commissioned officers verbally abuse their subordinates. Gone are the days where Soldiers are considered roughnecks that like to consume copious amounts of alcohol and engage in sparring activities with the local populace. The Army is transitioning into a professional organization with professional Soldiers filling in the ranks. This paper will explore what the Army profession is, what an Army professional is, what Army ethics are, the bedrock of Army profession, and the essential characteristics of the Army profession.

Every uniformed Army professional knows the Soldier’s Creed. The tenth line of the Soldier’s Creed - “I am an expert and I am a professional,” is a powerful statement recited during significant occasions including enlistments, graduations, first formations, promotion boards, change of command ceremonies, and deployment ceremonies. The NCO Creed even includes the bold statement, “No one is more professional than I,” in the opening line. For these words to ring true, the Army must deliver training sufficient to certify professional Soldiers and leaders at all levels. The Army’s ability to recognize this need and adapt its methods speaks volumes for the Profession of Arms. The three components of the Army’s leadership model -

Professionals in the United States Army stand apart from others engaged in particular careers in the civilian world. While many vocations contain some of the characteristics of professional, a lot of careers do not include all of the elements necessary to distinguish themselves as being as close to a professional as a United States soldier. Professionalism grows depending on the time and service they have in the Army. A professional has specialized knowledge and skill which can only be acquired through prolonged education and experience. Such skill and experience form the basis of objective standards of professional competence that separate the practicing professional from their peers and

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.

Military Professionalism cannot be incontestably defined, unless it is phrased in terms of what it seeks to address: the relationship between the civilian and military spheres and the traditions and skills necessary to conduct effective exercises of power on behalf of the state. Thus, Military Professionalism may be defined as any combination of behaviors, traits, values, and skills which lead to an optimal outcome in these categories. Huntington and Janowitz differ insofar as they attempt to describe different methods by which Military Professionalism is arrived at, though their core metrics are similar insofar as they agree upon the existence of an optimal level of power for the military to possess in relation to the civilian government.

Professional soldiers differ from the ordinary citizen particularly in psychological and personal characteristics and qualities. A soldier professional does not want a war, but he wants to be prepared for the worst possible variant of development. We can say that working in the armed forces is characterized by several attributes. I think the expert work, self-improvement, ethics, fulltime commitment and discipline are the most important ones. The expert work comes out from the requirements for controlling highly specialized equipment and procedures that occur only under the conditions of the armed forces. For example, an engineer knows the procedures for mine-clearing, building floating bridges, command and controlling submarines, fire control of air defense systems, logistic equipment transfers and many others. All of these activities call for a maximal professional approach and adherence to precisely specified procedures, which can be achieved only by professionals with many years of experience. So, to move forward and improve our professionalism it is very important to consider self-improvement. In my opinion, learning from experienced master soldiers, be active in self learning and have good motivation are the right ways to succeed. A profession of arms can be, and it certainly is, a dangerous way to meet our life necessities. It would be quite ridiculous if somebody stated he worked for armed forces only for loyalty to the