military bearing

From the thousand yard stare to a well kept hair cut, military bearing is prevalent in every facet of military life, though military bearing is much deeper than just appearances; it is the cornerstone of any military career. Military bearing encompasses every facet of life in the military and can be applied to any situation. Military bearing itself is gleaned from several places such as, the articles of the UCMJ, The eleven general orders of a sentry, as well as our own Sailors Creed. From these guidelines one can learn to conduct oneself on a daily basis, on and off duty. To fully understand military bearing in its entirety, one needs to examine the building blocks of military bearing; the Navy Core Values.

Honor, Courage, and Commitment are referenced anywhere one goes in the military, from the day one takes the oath to the day one retires from the service. Honor has many definitions, but one stands out and exemplifies military bearing; Doing the morally right action even when no one is watching, and the integrity that one takes upon oneself in order to responsibly carry out the orders of ones superiors. Courage is the Ability to stand up for ones beliefs and ethics that the Navy has instilled in them, despite the danger to oneself. Commitment is the dedication that is illustrated in the performance of each and every military member in the day to day duties in the Navy. Without one of the core values, the other values would not exist, and without the core values, military bearing would not exist. To Navy service members, military bearing is a broad assortment of rules and ethics that govern ones every day life. For example, a clean and presentable uniform, knowing ones facing movements, how to respectfully address a senior officer, as well as being prompt for either General Quarters, quarters or watch.