Preparing the next generation of leaders to take our place is a vital task, and teaching ethics is a key component of the process. How well do we prepare our future officers for the ethical challenges they will face?For those of us blessed with the opportunity to train our future officers, let us strive to set a good ethical foundation for them by emphasizing the importance of ethics, modeling proper ethical behavior and preparing them for potential situations they may face early in their careers. They—and our nation—deserve no less.
On the battlefields of Normandy, a group of ROTC cadets from North Texas learned the 10 leadership principles of Easy Company’s Maj. Richard “Dick” Winters, how a Supreme Allied Commander who had little command experience led a group of generals who did, and how Lt. Col. Robert G. Cole and his paratroopers escaped Dead Man’s Corner with a heroic bayonet charge. They saw firsthand where the largest U.S.-led invasion took place 71 years ago.The six cadets, undergraduate students from Texas Christian University, Baylor University, University of Texas at Arlington and University of North Texas...
Opportunities for Army women have grown since the days of gender apartheid when I joined in 1975. Women were not invited to participate in many of the activities that made our Army the most powerful fighting force on the face of the earth. While the first women had been allowed to go to Airborne School, women could not be assigned to combat units. They could not fly most aircraft or participate in any combat arms missions. Uniforms were completely different. The most obvious difference was the mint-green duty uniform. It was cute, but it was not really practical for field duty.I joined the...
It’s Time to Share the Responsibilities of FightingBy Walter E. PenkAfterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers. Nancy Sherman. Oxford University Press. 256 pages. $24.95.Nancy Sherman has written a significant work. She urges civilians to share with veterans the ownership of the wars they fought and to restore the trust and hope that veterans need to thrive and flourish as they return home. In essence, civilians need to learn to be with veterans. She concentrates on ways to resolve moral injuries. She writes we must go beyond the physical symptoms and symptom reduction on which...
It’s Time to Share the Responsibilities of FightingBy Walter E. PenkAfterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers. Nancy Sherman. Oxford University Press. 256 pages. $24.95.Nancy Sherman has written a significant work. She urges civilians to share with veterans the ownership of the wars they fought and to restore the trust and hope that veterans need to thrive and flourish as they return home. In essence, civilians need to learn to be with veterans. She concentrates on ways to resolve moral injuries. She writes we must go beyond the physical symptoms and symptom reduction on which...
It’s Time to Share the Responsibilities of FightingBy Walter E. PenkAfterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers. Nancy Sherman. Oxford University Press. 256 pages. $24.95.Nancy Sherman has written a significant work. She urges civilians to share with veterans the ownership of the wars they fought and to restore the trust and hope that veterans need to thrive and flourish as they return home. In essence, civilians need to learn to be with veterans. She concentrates on ways to resolve moral injuries. She writes we must go beyond the physical symptoms and symptom reduction on which...
It’s Time to Share the Responsibilities of FightingBy Walter E. PenkAfterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers. Nancy Sherman. Oxford University Press. 256 pages. $24.95.Nancy Sherman has written a significant work. She urges civilians to share with veterans the ownership of the wars they fought and to restore the trust and hope that veterans need to thrive and flourish as they return home. In essence, civilians need to learn to be with veterans. She concentrates on ways to resolve moral injuries. She writes we must go beyond the physical symptoms and symptom reduction on which...
It’s Time to Share the Responsibilities of FightingBy Walter E. PenkAfterwar: Healing the Moral Wounds of Our Soldiers. Nancy Sherman. Oxford University Press. 256 pages. $24.95.Nancy Sherman has written a significant work. She urges civilians to share with veterans the ownership of the wars they fought and to restore the trust and hope that veterans need to thrive and flourish as they return home. In essence, civilians need to learn to be with veterans. She concentrates on ways to resolve moral injuries. She writes we must go beyond the physical symptoms and symptom reduction on which...
It is hearing season on the hill and AUSA has been active.In addition to AUSA President Gen. Gordon R. Sullivan’s testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee in January which helped to successfully end the COLA cut for currently serving forces and current retirees, AUSA also has submitted testimony before the Joint House and Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committees and the Personnel Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee.As part of those testimonies, Sullivan has honed in on the fact that sequestration is an unrealistically rigid budget control measure that is causing defense...
At what point does the Army become a hollow and ineffective fighting force if the drawdown and budget cuts continue?Army leaders were asked that question during a media roundtable at the Pentagon, March 5, just a day after the Army’s proposed Fiscal Year 2015 budget was revealed.Weighing in on the question was Brig. Gen. John G. Ferrari, deputy director of Army program, analysis and evaluation.At some point, the Army’s ability to sustain combat in strategic depth would be eroded, he said, describing it not in terms of a magic number but as a continuum of risk level.By sustained combat, he...
The Family Readiness Directorate has taken its popular military family forums on the road.Working collaboratively with local AUSA Chapters and leaders from the installation Army Community Service (ACS) the first of three forums was held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord on March 15.The forum, titled "Education for the Entire Family," was focused on education issues facing servicemembers, military spouses and military children. The morning session was focused on local, district and state initiatives aimed at supporting the educational experience of military families.Panelists included School...
Cpl. Erica Gunter, A Battery, 2nd Battalion, 4th Field Artillery, or 2-4th FA, recently made history when she was promoted to corporal and assigned as a Multiple Launch Rocket System, or MLRS, launcher chief, a position usually held by a staff sergeant.Her new position means that she is the first woman, 13M, to enter the noncommissioned officer corps and be assigned as a launcher chief.While other female 13Ms have attained such status, they were all reclassified into the MOS, whereas Gunter began her career as a 13M two years ago during the second 13M Advanced Individual Training class open to...
A female first lieutenant from Fort Carson, Colo, who flies Apache helicopters, successfully completed all course requirements of the second gender-integrated Ranger Training Assessment Course, or RTAC, ending in late February.(Editor’s note: The Army did not identify the soldier by name to protect her from undue pressure.)Of the 100 soldiers who started this most-recent RTAC, 17 were female.Of the soldiers who completed the course successfully, 35 were male and one was female, said Maj. Gen. Scott Miller, who spoke during a media roundtable, Feb. 24.Miller is commander of the U.S. Army...
A directive signed by Army Secretary John M. McHugh, Feb. 25, opened more than 4,100 positions to women in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).Directive 2015-08 opened positions in the U.S. Army Special Forces Command, National Guard airborne battalions and tactical psychological teams.Although recent news has focused on female soldiers attending the pre-Ranger course, USASOC officials said the directive is significant because it opens unit positions in direct operational roles."In the aggregate, there have been approximately 5,000 positions opened within the command since 2013,"...
The Army dedicated March to highlighting stories of female soldiers."These stories are inextricably woven into the essential fabric of the nation’s history and the history of the U.S. Army," an official said.Adding, "This year, the Army acknowledges the accomplishments and contributions of pioneering women from the past and recognizes their impact on the force of today."In just over two years, the Army has opened to women six previously closed military occupational specialties and over 55,000 positions across all Army components.For the first time in history, the Army recently allowed female...