How important are RAF core values in the context of contemporary British society?
“Core values are those values by which we lead our lives and which we aspire to develop in others. The Royal Air Force core values are: Respect, Integrity, Service and Excellence, nurtured by effective and consistent leadership. These values, rooted in the moral and social development of our society over many generations, have a unifying function within the Royal Air Force and constitute the founding principles of our ethos as a warfighting Service.” Air Publication 1
The bold introductory quote above contains 2 assumptions: first, that an organisation’s core values can be ‘rooted in the moral and social development of our society over many generations’; and second, organisational values can influence the motivations of individuals. If these assumptions are true, it would follow that organisational core values have a fundamental role to play in any successful organisation. However, outside of initial training establishments and glossy strategy documents, RAF core values have not enjoyed a profile commensurate with the significance and potential alluded to above. What are core values; are they enduring? What effect do societal values have on organisations, given that organisations draw their members from society? A quick ‘google’ search on the subject of core values reveals a plethora of different subjects ranging from personal development, sociology, anthropology, psychology,
The past few months that I have spent in the JROTC program have instilled multiple army values in me through my experiences and allowed me to grow as a person. Several of the army values are as follows: loyalty, duty, respect, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
In the US army we are taught to live by the 7 army values. They are broken down to us in the acronym ‘LDRSHIP’. Loyalty “Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. constitution, the Army, and other soldiers.” Duty “Fulfill your obligations.” Respect “Treat people as they should be treated.” Selfless Service “Put the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates above your own.” Honor “Live up to the army values.”
Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage – seven values that must remain constant.
The Values identified, manifested and espoused by the US Army are: Loyalty, Duty Respect, Service &Stewardship, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. These are defined by our US Army as:
Corporate values are ‘the operating philosophies or principles that guide an internal conduct of the organization and its association with its clients, partners and shareholders’. It is also a fundamental and long-lasting belief that specific mode of conduction highly valued by the organization’s membership’ according to IBM corporate responsibility report (2002, What is the value of company).
The seven Army values are the backbone of the United States Army. They are broken down to us in the acronym ‘LDRSHIP’. Loyalty, “Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. constitution, the Army, and other soldiers.” Duty, “Fulfill your obligations.” Respect, “Treat people as they should be treated.” Selfless Service, “Put the welfare of the nation, the Army and your subordinates above your own.” Honor, “Live up to the army values.” Integrity, “Do what’s right legally and morally.” and Personal Courage “Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral).”
Values and ethics are essential in the workplace. It establishes how a company is run and remains profitable. Leaders are the key to demonstrating and creating the organization’s culture, ethics and values. It has to start at the top of the organization including the Chief Executive officer, board and owners. Leaders’ internalization and manifestation of the values in how they operate have a great influence on the employees. Every organization must start with a foundation, a code of conduct, code of ethics and a statement of values ( Ferrell, O.C., John Fraedrich, and Linda Ferrell).
When it comes to the Army core values I feel that all of them are equally important when it comes to being a great leader or just a soldiering general. The acronym LDRSHIP is what every soldier should represent and exemplify. It is the core of who we are. If I had to choose one that means the most to me I would say integrity. Without integrity you are nothing. To be able to be a great leader you should be able to always do what is right whether in the eye of someone else or behind closed doors. You should always be able to admit when wrong. Being a leader of integrity is being able to act according to principles and making decisions that are true to the army and one’s moral belief. As your integrity grows as a leader the respect you get
Commanders and supervisors have the ultimate responsibility to ensure the integrity and reputation of the agency through the fair and equitable investigation of internal matters and application of disciplinary procedures.
Every organization, both large and small, will typically have a well-defined set of values that they wish to espouse. This is the template for a successful, trained work force. These values will guide individuals during the decision-making processes that they will encounter. This blue print helps to ensure the integrity of the company and the individual, as well. Our Army today is no different. We can find our values and creeds everywhere we turn. One quick trip to a company or battalion headquarters will yield all the information a Soldier ever needs to assist them in making ethical choices. We hang posters touting the seven Army values on every wall. Units will prominently display the
First and foremost are the Air Force core values. The core values of the Air Force are, integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. Living by these values set up individuals and the Air Force for success. Doing what is right when no one is looking regardless of personal feelings or distress, completing a task even when it is time to go home, and doing it correctly the first time are basic examples of the
Values are the fundamental beliefs of a person, and they help guide us in making decisions and how we live our lives. Values are a part of our everyday life and in the workplace. In the workplace, these are the guiding principles that help to define how the corporation would behave. In this essay, the author will identify personal core values and discuss how we acquire and change values throughout life. Also will discuss what values do for us and the importance of values in the workplace.
An essential component of leadership is to articulate and exemplify the organization's core values. These values must be clear, compelling, and repeated. The leader must both "walk the talk" and inspire his/her colleagues within the organization to also live these values. Values are at the core of individual, group or organizational identity. Values are relatively enduring conceptions or judgments about what is considered to be important to an organization. Agreement between personal and organizational values result in shared values which constitute the benchmarking of a successful business practice.
Core values are a person or an organization's fundamental beliefs, these principles prescribe behavior along with helping people understand the difference between right and wrong, “values are what motivate you in life. They are what guide you along the path of fulfilment, so essentially your values are the foundation of who you are” (C.Worsley). These values are important to have because they are what shape you, they make every person unique. Having a spirit of adventure, perseverance, and having patience are only some of my core values. Knowing what you cherish is very important and is something many people should revise.
Core Values are something that all Airmen must believe in. Over the next 3 to 5 years, I hope to continue striving for excellence, both on and off duty. Integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do, means a lot to me. The way that I can get better, is that if I see a problem, I need to take immediate action to fix it, and not just walk past it. I hope to become a better leader by learning from my mistakes, and taking into consideration input and experiences from other team members. Taking time to understand that Airmen at all levels, have valuable input, ideas, and have different team roles, will make me a stronger leader in the future.