THE ARMY AS A PROFESSION

After a decade of United States military action soldiers enjoy widespread public appreciation. The public consensus that the Army is the world’s most effective fighting force and protects US interests. Soldiers’ high level of training, use of superior equipment and dedication to duty increases effectiveness. These traits define Army soldiers as members in a profession of arms. To understand why the Army is a profession of arms we define profession, examine alternate points of view, and show how the Army meets that definition. Samuel P. Huntington’s defining characteristics of a profession include expertise, responsibility and corporateness. Expertise is a widely understood concept as it applies to one’s occupation. Greater expertise is necessary in occupations requiring higher order of thought. Responsibility is being accountable but also implies reliability. Corporateness is a concept that members of a group identify each other as distinct from laymen. Huntington’s definition is widely accepted and applied to other professions like the clergy or attorneys. Other theories of professionalism may undermine the belief the Army is a profession. The professions theory asserts bureaucracy constrains individuals. Therefore, professionals avoid bureaucracy. The Army is a large bureaucracy and if this idea is accepted it is logical to believe that it is not professional because of the immense bureaucratic restraint. However, the nature of the military requires bureaucracy yet still allows for individualism. Under Unified Land Operations soldiers are expected to take part in such varying decisive operations from offense to defense to stability operations or Defense Support to Civil Authority. While tightly regulated soldiers possess immense expertise across these varying missions. The civil authority over the government does provide oversight but does not possess the expertise to tightly control the Army’s operations. Commanders are trusted to utilize their expertise to fulfill high level political goals. This trust is replicated through the Army chain of command to fulfill strategic, operational and tactical goals. The trust given to soldiers develops a shared and individual responsibility. Soldiers utilize their expertise on highly complicated equipment and are held responsible for the effective operation of that equipment. Leaders utilize their expertise to plan and supervise and are held responsible for their success. The volunteer force allows citizens to choose to undertake this responsibility. The level of responsibility for human life or death is enormous. Soldiers readily identify as being distinct from civilians. The Army has shared experience, uniforms, and language that are all unique to the organization. Soldiers, that never met, can often recognize another soldier out of uniform. There is a distinct camaraderie developed amongst units and across the organization. This camaraderie can bridge generational gaps as soldiers from different eras can still identify with one another. The Army’s profession of arms meets the definition developed by Huntington. The effectiveness of this fighting force creates a well-developed professional. Expertise is passed from generations and from recent lessons learned. Responsibility at the individual and group level is ingrained. Corporateness is embodied in the espirit de’ corps. All making the Army a profession of arms.

Bibliography 1. Samuel P. Huntington, The Soldier and the State, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1957.

2. Kevin Leicht and Mary Fennell, Professional work: A Sociological Approach, Blackwell Press, Malden, MA, 2001.

3. Andrew Abbott, The system of professions, Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1988.

4. US Department of the Army, ADP 3-0United Land Operations, Washington DC: US Army, 2011.

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[ 1 ]. Samuel P. Huntington, The Soldier and the State (Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1957).
[ 2 ]. Kevin Leicht and Mary Fennell, Professional work: A Sociological Approach, (Blackwell Press, Malden, MA, 2001).
[ 3 ]. Andrew Abbott, The system of professions, (Chicago: Chicago University Press, 1988).
[ 4 ]. US Department of the Army, ADP 3-0United Land Operations, Washington DC: US Army, 2011.