Professionalism: Military History

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.

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.

As a new soldier and future Army leader, you must recognize that military customs and courtesies are your constant means of showing that the standard of conduct for officers and Soldiers is high and

NonCommissioned Officers are the backbone of the Marine Corps.   Each leader is very different from the other.   Some Marines enjoy being a corporal only because of the increase in rank and pay.   A few become the tactless leaders junior Marines try to avoid.   Fortunately, many others strive to become the leader that other Marines wish to emulate.   They know what it means to be a good leader.   Those Marines have the traits of a leader and they get to know their Marines

The word “Professional” as defined, “characterized by or conforming to the technical and ethical standards of a profession” (Merriam-Webster, 2017) correlates with the true motive of the Soldier. The mindset of a professional soldier is ambitious and obedient to a conscious calling to serve a greater purpose than self. As stated from the article, “Professional Soldiers are “volunteers bonded with comrades in a shared identity and

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.

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

Maintaining your military bearing is the similar as being professional, But also has another definition to it, it means you are a soldier and should act like one at all times (being professional). Also it states that if you act unprofessional you are displaying to the world that the military is unprofessional. This is why you must maintain professional at all times cause you are the face of the military. Perception is reality in a lot of peoples eyes, that is a big deal in the military. In search of being professional you must, and I quote "cross all your T's and dot all your I's".

Being a professional soldier goes a long way. It means a person take pride in everything they do throughout life. It takes a lot of energy and time to earn this title so upholding its standard is a must. A soldier abides by all his and her codes and creeds. Also, the soldier must follow the army set values. There are seven values and all have a significant importance to our nation; loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. These seven values are all a soldier needs to be professional in the army. Following each of them and executing them will build your character and define you as a soldier and a person.

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]

Marine Corps customs and courtesies are very important to the way the Marine Corps works. They are intended to reinforce discipline and the chain of command, showing how Marines will treat their superiors. They also enhance esprit de corps and unity. This is what makes the Marine Corps the brotherhood that it has become.

A soldier is expected to represent the military at all times, including being courteous, confident, and enthusiastic. A soldier’s job is hazardous, sometime even life and death, the military needs only the best in its ranks, so a soldier expected to behave as a professional at all times. How the public sees a single soldier does affect how all soldiers are viewed in the public’s eye; this includes their physical appearance. When all of the elements are combined and implemented the soldier will have a strong military and professional bearing that the country expects of its soldiers. Military and professional bearing is how a soldier behaves, dresses, and carries themselves inside and outside of the uniform.

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

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 -

An example is when a soldier is talking bad about an NCO and another soldier sticks up for the NCO not only because they can get into trouble for talking like that, but because it is the right thing to do. It helps build a unit and unites them and builds trust. Missing PT on Wednesday was a prime example of disloyalty. If I was punctual and made sure the alarm was set the night before, I wouldn’t have let the team down. It showed the unit that I couldn’t be trusted with the smallest of tasks, such as being on time. Had I been more disciplines, I would have been more aware of the fact that the alarm was not set.