Military Professional Ethics

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Military Professional Ethics Decision Making
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Leadership and Decisions

• The power of decision develops only from
  practice. There is nothing mystic about it. It
  comes of a clear-eyed willingness to accept
  lifes risk, recognizing that only the enfeebled
  are comforted by thoughts of an existence devoid
  of struggle.
• BG S. L. A. Marshall

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What is Ethics?

• Ethics refers to the principles or rules of good
  conduct based on our beliefs of what is right or
  wrong, good or bad.

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How Do We Know What Is Right?

• Intuition, Self Evident
• Standards of Excellence (Virtues)
• Greatest Good for Greatest Number
• Duty to Others
• Care for Others
• Professional Standards
• Law of Land Warfare
• Army Values Warrior Ethos
• Oaths

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Ethical Conduct is Critical

• We represent the military profession
• People look at our behavior
• What we do affects many others
• Power brings responsibility
• Military leaders serve as role models

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Common Ethical Concepts

• Means ways we seek to achieve our goals
• Ends goals of our actions
• Culture patterns and traits of group action
• Conscience internal judgments of right and
  wrong
• Character patterns and traits of individual
  action
• Conduct actual behavior what is said and done

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Common Ethical Concepts

• Consequences the end result of our conduct
• Intentions the desired end of what we do
• Justice the quality of being right, fair, or
  correct
• Morals individual social beliefs about
  goodness
• Rights privileges guaranteed to individuals
• Responsibilities duties to the common good

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Two Types of Ethical Issues

• Micro ethics is the consideration of day-to-day
  expressions of character and conduct.
• Macro ethics is the consideration of long-term,
  far-reaching social consequences of character and
  conduct.

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Primary Ethical Tensions

• Conflicts of Interest
• Individual vs. Collective Good
• Conflicts of Values
• Forced choice between two different values
• Fair Treatment
• Favoritism, Double Standards, Discrimination
• Distribution of Goods or Wealth
• Safety and Bodily Harm

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Ethical Decision Making Process

• Identify the Ethical Problem
• Identify the Key Issues
• Generate Alternatives
• Analyze Alternatives
• Compare Alternatives
• Make and Execute a Decision
• Assess the Results

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Identify the Ethical Problem

• Conflict of Interest?
• Conflict of Values?
• Fair treatment?
• Distribution of wealth?
• Safety or bodily harm?
• Rights or responsibilities?

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Identify the Key Issues

• What is the potential good or evil?
• What conflicting values are involved?
• What are your personal motives?
• What are the long-term consequences?
• What benefits or harms are associated?

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Generate Alternatives

• Gather information from other sources
• Consider different points of view
• Evaluate cross-cultural factors
• Consult with trusted colleagues
• Recall historical experiences

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Analyze Alternatives

• Create the greatest good
• Align with your mission
• Align with Army values
• Consider long-term consequences
• Maintain a clear conscience
• Honor your character and reputation

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Compare Alternatives

• What is the greatest good?
• What action best supports your mission?
• What conduct most reflects Army values?
• What creates best long-term consequences?
• What allows your conscience to be clear?
• What most honors your reputation?

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Make and Execute a Decision

• Often there is no perfect action
• Lesser of two evils
• Greater of two goods
• No decision is a decision
• Accept your responsibility

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Assess the Results

• Ethical Examine character building
• Financial Evaluate economic impacts
• Operational Measure effects on quality
• Relational Consider cohesiveness
• Cultural Evaluate social contributions
• Educational Reflect on learning

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Abu Ghraib and Military Ethics

• Prisoners in US Custody were severely mistreated
• How has this affected the reputation of the
  military profession of arms?

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Army Ethical StandardsBLUF

• Live the Army Values (LDRSHIP)
• Empathy
• Model the Warrior Ethos
• Follow the Soldiers Creed
• Honor Your Oath as an Officer

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Building Ethical Character

• How do you build physical strength and stamina?
• How do you develop mental capacity and sharpness?
• Build ethical character the same way
• Conscious and diligent effort

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Ethical Scenario Questions

• What would you do in this situation?
• How would you defend your decision?
• What do you think the reaction of your squad
  members might be?
• What kind of courage would this require?

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Captured Platoon Sergeant

• Torn between two good missions
• Good of the individual Soldier vs. the Army
• Warrior ethos Mission first vs. fallen comrade
• Army values Personal Courage
• Army values Loyalty and Duty Tensions

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Civilian Vendors

• Good to help people who are in need
• Good to protect yourself from possible threat
• Good to reduce hostility of the local population
• Important to know the local culture and customs
• Army values Personal Courage
• Army values Selfless Service

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Conclusions

• Ethical decisions can be difficult
• Ethical decisions are not always clear
• Cultural moral standards make ethical conduct
  difficult to determine
• Sometimes you must choose between the lesser of
  two evils or greater of two goods
• There are often tensions between what is best for
  one individual and what is best for the group
• Ethical decisions require diligent effort and
  courage