Ethical Issues

Ethical Issues in the United States Army           1

Ethical Issues in the United States Army

Business Ethics

November 23, 2009  

                                                          Ethical Issues in the United States Army           2

      I have been in the United States Army for over twenty-six years, and have been assigned to many outstanding units and organizations during that time.   My current assignment is as a Station Commander with the United States Army Recruiting and Retention Battalion.   The mission of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion is to enlist qualified applicants into the Army, which will help the Army prepare for war, and maintain the current end strength goal established by higher echelon officials.   Although this assignment is very rewarding and satisfying, it is also very stressful at times.   Recruiting is one of the hardest jobs in the military, but the satisfaction of taking care of soldiers makes it all worth it.
      The issue that arises in recruiting or with any other job that deals with business is numbers.   As a Station Commander, I am responsible for the production (numbers) of not only my station, but the production of each recruiter under me.   If my team does not produce the amount of numbers that higher commands need then we are dealt with severely.   It is my responsibility to keep my team motivated, and focused especially when times are tough.   This is how a sales business operates, and I personally do not feel that the Army should be a business.
      The utilitarian approach that “Mother Army” takes in this matter is the amount of numbers that are needed in order to accomplish the overall mission, and maintain the proper strength needed to accomplish this mission.   I do understand this approach, however there are people in higher positions that abuse their rank and do not care about the welfare of their soldiers.   The more I examine it; the Army is a business, as... [continues]

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