Army Values Essay Example

The purpose of this essay is to discuss the Army Values; what are they, how we use them and why do we live by them. They are one of the stepping stones if not the foundation of the Military. They have been used for years and repeated many times over throughout the adopting of the values. The values we, Soldiers, use run deep in our core and we live them every day and night, in and out the uniform. Let us go deeper on them to have a better understanding of them.

The Army has always incorporated values and imbued important codes within its ranks. What are the Army Values? When you think Army Values, you think LDRSHIP. What is that you may ask; it is Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage. These make up the “7 Army Values” that Soldiers live by. They were introduce in to the Army in 1995 and are under AR 600-100. Who first bought them in to phase with an article was General Dennis Reimer in 1995. The title of his article was’ “Where We’ve Been-Where We’re Headed: Maintaining a Solid Framework while Building for the Future.” His original values were “Loyalty, Duty, Selfless Service, Courage, Integrity, Respect for human dignity, and Sense of Justice.” It was later changed to what we know now in 2007, the army adjusted to FM 22-100 (Army Leadership) saying now Soldiers follow the army values on and off duty.

How do we use these Army Values? These will be broken down by each letters meaning in LDRSHIP. Loyalty is being true and loyal to your country, comrades, and military, it is the first Army Value. Duty is doing your orders are command by the standard and completing when someone is or is not supervising you, it is the second Army Value. Respect is basically showing another the same treatment you would want in return; it is the third Army Value. It also helps to develop the characteristic of appreciate the in best in others. Selfless service is the forth Army Value, it means to put others life first and the nation above your own. The fifth Army Value is Honor to hold self to the standard and live up to the Army Values. The sixth Army value is Integrity, it means to hold self-accountable, be truthful/honest, and do what is always right when someone is around or not. The seventh and final is Personal Courage, which means to stand up for what is right, also to put fears aside and face adversity. This is how the military and us, Soldiers use them and they become a part of our everyday life.

Why do we live by the Army Values? They are important representation of the Soldier’s image and the military way of life. It is embedded in to us from the moment we start basic training to the end of our career and even then we still hold on to them. Soldiers are supposed to live by these values every day and night to the very end of career. You do get some that stray away from them, and then it becomes your moral duty to get them back on track. Just being in the military you become part of a family; at all time you must show that respect and conduct ourselves to the standard and be well mannered.