Accountability Army

Accountability and Responsibility As an American soldier it is imperative to be accountable, whether it be for yourself, equipment, or your battle buddies. Lack of accountability can cause detrimental effects to the binds that hold the team together. For example, if you are not accountable of your equipment in combat, then you are a burden to the other soldiers, thus putting the lives of our fellow soldiers at risk. If you are not accountable, people will observe this and not have competency that you can complete your job in the mission. The Department of Defense defines accountability as the obligation imposed by law or an lawful order or regulation on an officer or other person for keeping accurate records of property, documents, or funds. The person having this obligation may or may not have actual possession of the property, documents, or funds. What I perceive from this definition is that the Army and Department of Defense in general expects you to maintain all issued equipment and anything that you have signed for. As a medic, it is a must that you be accountable for all your gear. If you lose your aid bag while in combat, How will you provide emergency care to the soldiers? If you “lose track” of morphine, What can you do for a soldier that is in severe pain suffering from an amputation or other common causes of pain in country? The answer is simple you are not able. This is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the Army. With the Army dealing with fiscal restraints, losing your equipment is taking away from much needed programs. Soldiers should not be a burden to the Army or their fellow comrades. As the soldiers creed clearly states: “I always maintain my arms, equipment, and myself.” This is not only an obligation but an expectation from the Army. Another reason to be accountable is that it will cost the person who was not accountable in the end. Whether its you paying for the equipment, getting an Article 15 with UCMJ action, or being