...Profession of Arms Argumentative Essay A profession is defined as “a type of job that requires special education, training, or skill.” A profession is not like your everyday normal occupation that produces routine repetitive work. It involves producing a unique type of work through effectiveness. Society seeks medical treatment, law and order, and security which are all produced through professions. The United State Army defines itself as a profession of arms because it serves and provides the security sought out by the American public. Yet because of several events from the past decade some believe that the Army has struggled to maintain its standards as a profession of Arms and no longer consider the Army as such. I believe that in the fact the United State Army is a profession of Arms and it is due to the definition of a profession, the Army’s professional culture, and the American public opinion. I will be discussing why I believe this to be so as outlined in the “Profession of Arms White Paper.” As stated in the Merriam-Webster definition a profession requires special education, training, and skills. The Army is a profession of arms that is an expert at educating and producing the most highly effective trained and skillful professional Soldiers. The Army develops Soldiers and leaders throughout their careers of service to aspire to be experts and use their lethal expertise, both as individuals and as units, with the highest standards of character, for the defense...
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...An Army White Paper THE PROFESSION OF ARMS I AM AN EXPERT AND I AM A PROFESSIONAL 9TH STANZA SOLDIER’S CREED CG TRADOC Approved 8 December 2010 Authority: This White Paper has been approved for distribution on 2 December 2010 by the Commanding General, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), under his authority granted by the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army in the Terms of Reference dated 27 October 2010 for TRADOC to execute the ‗Review of the Army Profession in an Era of Persistent Conflict.‘ Purpose: This White Paper serves to facilitate an Army-wide dialog about our Profession of Arms. It is neither definitive nor authoritative, but a starting point with which to begin discussion. It will be refined throughout calendar year 2010 based on feedback from across our professional community. All members of the profession and those who support the profession are encouraged to engage in this dialog. Distribution: Distribution is unlimited. Yet, the material in this draft is under development. It can be referenced, but not referenced or cited as official Army policy or doctrine. Feedback and Participation: Comments on this White Paper should be sent to the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic (CAPE), Combined Arms Center, TRADOC. To get engaged in this review of the Profession of Arms, visit the CAPE website at https://www.us.army.mil/suite/page/611545 and click on the Campaign link. The website will also provide links to professional forums...
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...ATSJ-BTB 23 JULY 2013 SUBJECT: Summary of the Army White Paper: A Profession of Arms 1. Purpose: To summarize the Army White Paper: A Profession of Arms and capture the thesis, main points, and objective of the writer. 2. Facts: a. The author notes the purpose of his writing in the beginning prologue, “This White Paper serves to facilitate an Army-wide dialog about our Profession of Arms. It is neither definitive nor authoritative, but a starting point with which to begin discussion.” He alludes to future refinement of the paper once TRADOC receives feedback from the Army community. b. Organized into five sections, A Profession of Arms begins by defining “Profession” and its implications to the Army. The paper then delves into the Army’s “Professional Culture,” before discussing the effects of “Army Ethics” in developing that culture. Lastly, it analyzes the role of U.S. society in the development of Army ethics and culture. The paper concludes with possible future changes in the meaning “Profession of Arms” after a decade of war and a request to begin a community dialogue on this topic. c. To start the discussion, the author defines Profession when he states, “Professions produce uniquely expert work, not routine or repetitive work.” He continues by describing truly expert work as taking years of study and practice. The writer transitions into how the Army is an “American Profession of Arms, a vocation comprised of experts certified in...
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...Resources Sergeant in The Profession of Arms Staff Sergeant John Marple 42A3O, ALC Phase I, Class 002 Instructor Sergeant First Class Tim Fields September, 3 2015 An Army White Paper, The Profession of Arms The United States Army is a Profession of Arms. The Army consists of unique experts that require years of study and practice to become professionals. Society is dependent on these professionals for the security of this great nation. Human Resources Sergeants are one of the many professionals in the Profession of Arms. Soldiers are expected to kill or give their life in this profession. The Human Resources Sergeant may not be a highly trained killer, but he or she is no less important in the profession. The Human Resources Sergeant is a vital role in the Profession of Arms. A profession is an occupation that requires the mastery of complex skills or knowledge. The Profession of Arms is different because of its use of lethal means. This difference causes challenges building trust with the American people. The Army must constantly re-earn the trust of Americans through our ethics. Each Soldier must live the Army values each and every day to ensure this trust. Soldiers must continue to master their occupational skills. The Army’s Profession of Arms provides a vital role to the safety of the United States....
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...In our society today, the American people are struggling, their lack of respect for our country, our morals and our values have drastically impacted our culture and the American way of life. On that note, we conclude, that the average American lacks faith and security in our own nation. With that being said: America, rest assured and know that our Professional Soldiers are receiving training, education and experience, to better our forces and to someday regain the trust of our American citizens, once again. In addition, despite the obsticles, our Professional Soldiers strive for exemplary standards of unwavering ethical and moral dedication in all areas of their career. Understanding that some Military Occupations are tougher than others, yet our goal remains; to mold diverse Leaders by providing them the foundational standards as American Soldiers. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless-Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage, are the core values we live and breathe as American Soldiers. We must not forget or become laxed because these values are the backbone to the Army and are foundational truths to our success. As Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) we will reprioritize our conduct, in order for these values to resignate home within us. As...
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...The profession of arms calls upon the skill and sacrifice of its members in ways that no other profession will. Reflecting upon nine years of combat, the Army is exploring the strengths that have sustained Soldiers and the challenges that they are facing as a profession. The Army has also made a commitment to education, efforts to sustain the bond of trust between the Army and the American public, and the impact of decentralized operations. What it means to be a profession and the unique challenges that the Army faces? I feel you’re not a profession because you say you are. Profession is society’s way of organizing expert work, the kind of work it takes years to learn. Professionals act and practice their knowledge, which is expert knowledge. The professionals’ work is absolutely critical to the survival of the society, going back to the gravity of a Soldier’s expert knowledge. True professionals are servants. They lead a life of servitude for the satisfaction of a job well-done. I feel that the tension in the Army between an occupation-based culture and a profession-based culture. The campaign is seeking to leverage the successes of the Army to maintain it as a profession and avoid becoming an occupation-based culture. I have never seen the Army so focused and as resilient as I see now. What is it about the profession that has helped achieve results in Iraq and increasingly in Afghanistan. In my opinion I recommended that Soldiers recommit themselves to the culture...
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...The Important Role of the Human Resources Sergeant in the Profession of Arms As in any organization, the Army is composed of many employees functioning in different capacities to make the entity work as it should. It is a machine with components upon components, each relying on each other to accomplish a goal or mission. However, unlike much of organizations world-wide, the Army is a profession of lethality. Army professionals, as mentioned in “The Profession of Arms” (2010), should be experts in the “ethical application of land combat power”. Human Resource (HR) Sergeants are not expected to be the primary source of the Army’s lethality, but they are an important cog in this lethal profession. Before we delve into the importance of the HR Sergeant, what exactly is a profession and how does the Army’s profession of arms fall into that category? “The Profession of Arms” (2010) defines a profession as employment that “produce uniquely expert work,” and values “effectiveness, rather than pure efficiency.” It also explains that it is a serving...
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...A Profession is not something that everyone thinks about, so they truly don’t know the meaning. To most a profession is just routine and comfortability in a position. Profession is built with experience and knowledge about the occupation at hand. Profession of Arms, is not just that Soldiers can do their jobs, and go into combat. Professions are earned in the trust of their clients, and has to be re-earned every day; to the armed forces that would be, the people of the United States. The generation of the WWII set the standard of what profession is. Respect through the ranks, civilian employees, and the American people. Americans never had any doubt who would protect their country. Profession is not based on pay, it’s the camaraderie, and honor to serve. It is...
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...PROFESSION OF ARMS The purpose of this paper is to express a set of views on the ethical obligations of members of the American profession of arms in order to stimulate thoughtful discussion and broader debate about the proper limits of acceptable and effective professional conduct. These views are focused for most part on the obligations of commissioned officers, but they apply in many ways to the public and private conduct of senior non-commissioned officers, and indeed, all military members. They depend to a large degree on a particular understanding of the governing compact of this country and the behavior American citizens expect of their uniformed servants. The overall objective of the Army Profession of Arms campaign is for Soldiers and leaders to refine their understanding of what it means to be professionals expert members of the Profession of Arms after nine years of war and to recommit to a culture of service and the responsibilities and behaviors of our profession as articulated in the Army Ethic. Much of the initial discussion involving this campaign focuses on whether or not military service is a profession. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines a profession as "a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation; a principal calling, vocation, or employment; or the whole body of persons engaged in a calling. Based on the subtle differences between the definitions of a profession and an occupation, I...
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...The Army is the primary landpower arm of our Nation’s Armed Forces. It exists to serve the American people, protect enduring national interests, and fulfill the Nation’s military responsibilities. FM 1 is one of the Army’s two capstone field manuals. It contains our vision for the Army. While the entire manual is important, I would direct your attention to four particular items. FM 1 establishes the fundamental principles for employing landpower. The most important of these are the Army’s operational concept and the fundamentals that support it. They form the foundation for all Army doctrine. All Soldiers should understand and internalize them. FM 1 describes the American profession of arms, the Army’s place in it, and what it means to be a professional Soldier. Central to this discussion are the Soldier’s Creed, Warrior Ethos, and Army Values. These three statements establish the guiding values and standards of the Army profession. To understand Soldiers, you must know about them. To be a Soldier, you must live them. FM 1 discusses Army contributions to the joint force. As the Armed Forces achieve even greater joint interdependence, the Army will depend more on the other Services and vice versa. For this reason, the Army is currently transforming its units and institutions to enhance our campaign qualities for sustained operations and to achieve greater expeditionary and joint capabilities. It is important for Soldiers and all who support or are associated with the Army to understand...
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...obligations of members of the American profession of arms in order to stimulate thoughtful discussion and broader debate about the proper limits of acceptable and effective professional conduct. These views are focused for most part on the obligations of commissioned officers, but they apply in many ways to the public and private conduct of senior non-commissioned officers, and indeed, all military members. They depend to a large degree on a particular understanding of the governing compact of this country and the behavior American citizens expect of their uniformed servants. The overall objective of the Army Profession of Arms campaign is for Soldiers and leaders to refine their understanding of what it means to be professionals expert members of the Profession of Arms after nine years of war and to recommit to a culture of service and the responsibilities and behaviors of our profession as articulated in the Army Ethic. Much of the initial discussion involving this campaign focuses on whether or not military service is a profession. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines a profession as "a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation; a principal calling, vocation, or employment; or the whole body of persons engaged in a calling. Based on the subtle differences between the definitions of a profession and an occupation, I believe that the dispute regarding the appropriateness of defining the military as a profession revolves around varying...
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...The Army is unlike any other job in the world. There are wartime requirements, strategic decision making processes, and invaluable leadership positions. All while holding the faith and trust of the American people in our hands. We maintain this by being professionals. Professions require a level of commitment that institute models of consistency, as well as a constant willingness to self-improve. Human Resources is the drive behind the force, spearheaded by the Sergeants. A Human Resources Sergeant sets the example in this occupation for young soldiers, while sustaining a level of technical expertise. The core substance of the Army is the ability to continuously learn, self-assess, adapt, and transform into a better product of itself. Soldiers of the Army establish a level of trust by displaying these qualities to the American people time and time again. Soldiers epitomize the ability to adapt and transform, by continuously striving for technical expertise and personal development. The reputation of the Army relies on its history of professionals, instilling a culture standing the test of time. The Army is ever changing, which results in cultural changes. Preparing soldiers in the Army for...
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...Elements of the Profession of Arms and Their Impact on the Military Logistician by Major Eric A. McCoy Is military service a profession or an occupation? Is there really a difference? The author argues that there is and that Soldiers definitely are members of a profession. Following the Vietnam War, the Army suffered from an evident depression, particularly within the officer corps and noncommissioned officer corps, that led to a revamping of our professional institutions and doctrine. Observing this process, the late sociologist Charles Moskos theorized that the decline resulted from the Army seeming to develop the characteristics of a civilian occupation rather than the profession it had always considered itself to be. The basic distinction between these two concep-tions of the military lies in their relationship to, and legitimization by, American society. Moskos noted that society legitimizes an institution “in terms of norms and values, a purpose transcending individual self-interest in favor of a presumed higher good. Members of a professional institution are often seen as following a calling captured in words like duty, honor, country.” Conversely, an occupational model receives its legitimacy in terms of the marketplace, where supply and demand are paramount and self-interest takes priority over communal interests.1 A generation later, we find similarities as we assess the impacts of a decade of persistent conflict on the all-volunteer Army. Our Army's senior...
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...means to be a member of the Profession of Arms. But what is a profession and where does a Human Resources Sergeant fit into one based on Arms? We can answer this question by examining what it means to be a profession, understanding the challenges and requirements that leaders face, and then emphasizing why Human Resources Sergeants are critical to the success of the Profession of Arms. When I...
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...“Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory, that if you lose, the Nation will be destroyed, that the very obsession of your public service must be Duty, Honor, Country.” ~ Gen. MacArthur The military is not a Profession. I submit that it is an occupation with professional values, which stands amongst other professions. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines a profession as a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation. To classify the military as a profession would mean that completion of basic training, regardless of individual skill or education level, meets that definition. Officers are required to have completed at least four years of secondary education; however it does not have to be even remotely related to the field that they work. The US military holds a unique standard when compared to other civil and federal organizations. The US Military is a conglomerate of diverse individuals with varying levels of skills and education, who choose to forfeit many of their civil rights and for some more lucrative opportunities in order to serve; many joined because of a sense of a calling, others out of necessity but few if any believed that when they enlisted that they were joining a profession. As a means to instill a level of professionalism, the military instituted the use of the Warrior Ethos in 2003. This was one of the first in a series of steps...
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