Ethics and the Twenty-First Century Military Professional

There has been an emphasis within the leadership of the U.S. Navy for over a decade to support the strengthening of the individual and team not only in terms of competence but equally the character of the member and overall force.

The focus of this publication from the Naval War College is an emphasis on professional ethics not only within the Navy but all service branches of the U.S. military. 

The following articles can be a platform to establish a common language about ethics in a world of dynamic change. It is the opinion of Navy contributor Timothy J. Demy, PhD, Professor of Military Ethics at U.S. Naval War College, that American citizens expect the military to “lead and operate with a strong ethical compass.”

This resource features a series of eight articles, previously featured in the "Naval War College Review" journal.  Tthe titles included in this volume (paraphrased) as follows:

• Moral, Ethical, and Psychological Preparation of Soldiers
• The Navy’s Moral Compass
• Has Commanding Officer Conduct Improved
• Mentoring in the U.S. Navy
• Cultivating Sailor Ethical Fitness
• Stoic Philosophy and the Western Profession of Arms in the 21st Century
• What is the Best Way to Frame the Military Virtues?
• Ethics in the U.S. Navy

Throughout this text, you will learn about the writings of known teachers, such as Aristotle, Sun Tzu’s classic "Art of War", General H. Norman Schwarzkopf with recurring themes of trust, honor, courage, character, respect, “doing the right thing” as principles guiding the ethics of military professionals."

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Foreword ix

Introduction 1

MORAL, ETHICAL, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PREPARATION OF SOLDIERS AND UNITS FOR COMBAT 3

THE NAVY’S MORAL COMPASS: COMMANDING OFFICERS AND PERSONAL MISCONDUCT 15

REVISITING THE NAVY’S MORAL COMPASS: HAS COMMANDING OFFICER CONDUCT IMPROVED? 31

MENTORING IN THE U.S. NAVY: EXPERIENCES AND ATTITUDES OF SENIOR NAVY PERSONNEL  45

CULTIVATING SAILOR ETHICAL FITNESS 59

CAPTAINS OF THE SOUL: STOIC PHILOSOPHY AND THE WESTERN PROFESSION OF ARMS IN THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY 73

EPICTETUS VS. ARISTOTLE: WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO FRAME THE MILITARY VIRTUES?  99

ETHICS IN THE U.S. NAVY  117

About the Contributors 131

LES2 - Demy.indb 7 11/29/18 9:10 AM viii ethics and the twenty-first-century military professional Naval War College van Beuren Studies in Leadership and Ethics Series 134

As a resource of universal value, you may find reading of these insights and historical perspectives  on ethical behavior for military leadership, academic scholars, corporate leadership, and all some American citizens concerned about the state of morality and ethical behavior found in society today.