U.S. Army Heritage and Traditions

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U.S. Army Heritage and Traditions

• SSG Millington
• Drill Sergeant

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Introduction

• The responsibility of the Army is to preserve
  the peace and security of the United States, as
  well as to provide for defense, by supporting its
  national policies and objectives. It is
  organized, trained, and equipped primarily for
  prompt and to sustain combat. It is also equally
  responsible for the preparation of land forces
  necessary for the effective prosecution of and
  in accordance with mobilization plans, the
  expansion of the peacetime components of the Army
  to meet the needs of war.

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In Freedoms Name
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Soldier Responsibilities

• Showing that the proud heritage of citizen
  service continue.
• Your own reason personal or private.
• With all the same goal to become a soldier.

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Becoming A Soldier

• Rite of passage by which one both learns and
  earns citizenship
• For a time, at least, the difference of wealth,
  education, locality, taste, occupation, and
  social rank, which divide Americans as
  effectively as though they were on different
  continents or in different centuries, are lost
  site of.

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Oath of Enlistment

• Bear true faith and allegiance to the United
  States of America
• Serve and defend the Constitution of the United
  States against all enemies
• Obey the orders of the President of the United
  States and the officers appointed over you

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Responsibilities of a Citizen

• Four Basic Responsibilities
• For the government.
• To support the law.
• To protect the differences of others.
• For the general welfare of others.

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Responsibilities of a Soldier

• An extension of our responsibilities as citizens.
• Freedom is not a prize to be given to a man just
  because he was lucky enough to have been born an
  American
• General Omar N. Bradley

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Soldiers Responsibilities

• To do all task at the best of our abilities.
• Responsibilities will include
• courage
• sacrifice
• hardship
• routine and monotonous
• demand

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Soldiers Responsibilities

• What guides the soldier in the performance of
  these added responsibilities?
• Army Regulations
• Uniform Code of Military Justice
• Field Manuals
• Training Circulars
• Soldiers Manuals

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The Professional Army Values

• Loyalty
• Duty
• Respect
• Selfless Service
• Honor
• Integrity
• Personal Courage

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Loyalty

• This value implies recognition that the Army
  exist solely to serve and defend the nation.
• Serving and defending the ideals of freedom,
  justice, truth, and equality found in the
  Declaration of Independence an the Constitution.

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Duty

• Fulfill your obligations.

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Respect

• Treat people as they should be treated

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Selfless Service

• Putting the needs and goals of the nation, the
  Army, your unit, and your fellow soldiers ahead
  of your personal needs and interest.

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Honor

• Live up to all Army Values

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Integrity

• Do whats right, legally and moral.

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Personal Courage

• Face fear, danger, or adversity ( Physical or
  Moral )

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Character

• Our adherence to the professional Army ethic
  depends on our character.
• Character is the combined moral or ethic
  structure of a person that combination of
  qualities that distinguishes one person from
  another.

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Soldierly Values

• Four qualities or traits of character which must
  be valued by all soldiers.
• Courage
• Candor
• Competence
• Commitment

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Courage

• Physical courage is overcoming fears of bodily
  harm and doing your duty.
• Moral courage is overcoming fears of others
  rather than bodily harm while doing what ought to
  be done.

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Candor

• Being frank, open, honest, and sincere with your
  soldiers, seniors, and peers.

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Competence

• Proficiency in required professional knowledge,
  judgement, and skills.
• Individual / MOS knowledge

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Commitment

• Dedication to carry out all unit missions and to
  serve the values of the country, the Army, and
  the unit.

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Ethics / Values

• The professional Army ethic is the guide post for
  soldiers in the execution of these expanded
  responsibilities.
• By ensuring that our every action exemplifies
  this ethic, each of us will be the best soldier
  possible.

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Traditions
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21 Gun Salute

• Because of the limited amount of gun powder a
  ship could carry, the British established a
  seven-volley fire as a suitable number. They did
  not, however, feel that seven would be enough for
  a return salute. They made it known that land
  forces were expected to fire three volleys for
  every one they fired. Thus a 21- volley salute.

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Uniforms

• The uniforms was a means of determining who was
  the enemy or not. The oldest uniform belong to
  the Vatican Guards and the British Yeoman of the
  Guard and dated back to 1845.

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Chevrons

• A French word meaning rafter. used as a display
  of rank.
• They came into the American Army by way of the
  West Point Cadre Uniform between the years
  1821-1832.
• Chevrons has been used to identify the enlisted
  ranks exclusively since 1832.

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Marching / Music

• Used to establish a sense of alertness, urgency,
  attention to detail, self-discipline, and
  confidence.
• Military music dates back to the early Romans it
  was used to control the military formations.

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Hand Salute

• From early times and in many cultures, the right
  hand (weapon) hand has been raised as a greeting
  of friendship. The idea may have been to show you
  that you weret going to use a weapon.