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Seven Values of the US Army
Many people know
what the words Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor,
Integrity, and Personal Courage mean. But how often do you see
someone actually live up to them? Soldiers learn these values in
detail during Basic Combat Training (BCT), from then on they
live them every day in everything they do—whether they’re on the
job or off. In short, the Seven Core Army Values listed below
are what being a Soldier is all about.
Loyalty
Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the
Army, your unit and other Soldiers. Bearing true faith and
allegiance is a matter of believing in and devoting yourself to
something or someone. A loyal Soldier is one who supports the
leadership and stands up for fellow Soldiers. By wearing the
uniform of the U.S. Army you are expressing your loyalty. And by
doing your share, you show your loyalty to your unit.
The Decision at the Marias. The men thought the route ran
to the northwest up the Marias River, while both Lewis and Clark
thought the main river channel ran to the southwest. The men
agreed to go along with the decision of the captains to proceed
to the southwest, which was indeed the Missouri River.
Duty
Fulfill your obligations. Doing your duty means more than
carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to
accomplish tasks as part of a team. The work of the U.S. Army is
a complex combination of missions, tasks and
responsibilities—all in constant motion. Our work entails
building one assignment onto another. You fulfill your
obligations as a part of your unit every time you resist the
temptation to take “shortcuts” that might undermine the
integrity of the final product.
Fulfilling the
Letter and Intent of Jefferson's Order. The Corps of
Discovery never wavered from its mission. Additionally, Lewis,
Clark, and several of the men kept journals. Sergeant Ordway was
the only one to make daily entries.
Respect
Treat people as they should be treated. In the Soldier’s Code,
we pledge to “treat others with dignity and respect while
expecting others to do the same.” Respect is what allows us to
appreciate the best in other people. Respect is trusting that
all people have done their jobs and fulfilled their duty. And
self-respect is a vital ingredient with the Army value of
respect, which results from knowing you have put forth your best
effort. The Army is one team and each of us has something to
contribute.
Diplomats with the Indians. The Corps of Discovery
honored with dignity and respect all the tribes it met, offering
gifts as a symbol of friendship and peace.
Selfless Service
Put the welfare of the Nation, the Army and your subordinates
before your own. Selfless service is larger than just one
person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally
without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building block
of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go
a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little
closer to see how he or she can add to the effort.
Adversity Along the Way. Hard physical labor
characterized every day, but the Corps of Discovery conquered
every navigational hazard and overcame a variety of physical
ills - boils, blisters, bunions, sunstroke, dysentery, fatigue,
injuries, colds, fevers, snakebites, ticks, gnats, toothaches,
headaches, sore throats, bad mosquitoes, and prickly pear
cactus.
Honor
Live up to Army values. The Nation’s highest military award is
The Medal of Honor. This award goes to Soldiers who make honor a
matter of daily living—Soldiers who develop the habit of being
honorable, and solidify that habit with every value choice they
make. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the
values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity
and personal courage in everything you do.
Importance of
Character. Lewis and Clark were very thorough in selecting
only the best men for the mission - those who would work
together for the good of the group and pull their own weight.
Integrity
Do what’s right, legally and morally. Integrity is a quality you
develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do
and say nothing that deceives others. As your integrity grows,
so does the trust others place in you. The more choices you make
based on integrity, the more this highly prized value will
affect your relationships with family and friends, and, finally,
the fundamental acceptance of yourself.
Degree of Freedom. Many times the men were on their own
as the captains performed their duties. On the return trip,
Lewis and Clark divided the Corps of Discovery into five
separate detachments (under the commands of Lewis, Clark,
Ordway, Gass, and Pryor) to accomplish independent missions.
Only two men were discharged from the expedition - Reed for
desertion and Newman for mutinous conduct.
Personal Courage
Face fear, danger or adversity (physical or moral). Personal
courage has long been associated with our Army. With physical
courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times
risking personal safety. Facing moral fear or adversity may be a
long, slow process of continuing forward on the right path,
especially if taking those actions is not popular with others.
You can build your personal courage by daily standing up for and
acting upon the things that you know are honorable.
Into the Unknown.
The men of the Corps of Discovery left not knowing what lay
ahead or if they would ever return. Throughout the journals one
phrase stands out - "we proceeded on." This clearly
characterizes the spirit of the expedition.
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