Army Values BY dez38 Desmond Boyd ARMY ROTC/ col. Deas 20Feb2013 What are Army Values and what are they put in place for? For beginners there are seven Army Values they are Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. These seven values also form an acronym “LDRSHIP”. The Army Values were put into place to help soldiers make the right decision at all times in the Army and outside. Loyalty is to bear true faith and allegiance to the US Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other soldiers.
For example all Soldiers and overnment civilians swear a sacred oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The Army leans on loyalty. Loyalty in the Army is a two way commitment between leaders and subordinates. By working with each other and completing their dutys they are gaining trust, while becoming very loyal towards each other. Duty is to fulfill your obligations. Not Just completing your work at the minimum standard but to always do your best. Taking the initiative to do things is a great example of fulfilling your duties.
Completing your duty also prevents illegal orders because leaders have no choice but to do what is right. Respect is to treat people as they should be treated with dignity and respect. That means no matter of gender, rank, culture, and religious belief everyone should be treated the same. Being a leader you must maintain an atmosphere of everyone being treated fairly. Selfless Service is to put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and subordinates before you. Everyone must work together to complete tasks.
So without a leader meeting hese value things in the Army will not be getting done. Honor is to live up to these values. Honor provides a moral compass for character and personal conduct in the Army. It means you live by words and actions consistent with high ideals. Honor is the glue that holds the Army Values together. Honor requires that you always demonstrate an understanding of what is right and take pride in doing that. Integrity is to do what is right legally and morally. Army relies on leaders of integrity. With no integrity you have no honor.
You must always do what is right no matter the circumstances or the situation. Last but not least you have personal courage. Personal Courage is to face fear, danger, or adversity physical and moral. Physical courage is overcoming fears of bodily harm and doing your duty. It triggers bravery that allows you to take risk in combat in spite of the fear of injury or even death. Moral courage is the willingness to stand firm on values, principles, and convictions. It enables you to stand up for what you believe is right, regardless of the consequences.
