Soldiers and the Ethical Life

by Prescott Farris

The following essay was the winner of the Lieutenant General (Ret.) Theodore J. Stroup JROTC Achievement Award, a scholarship program hosted by AUSA’s Education & Programs for the benefit of JROTC cadets.

American Soldiers are a special group. They are the men and women who answer the call to do things that many people could never comprehend in defense of freedom around the world. Unfortunately, under these circumstances, Soldiers may do things that they would not only normally avoid, but that contradict what they may personally believe is right. Often, these actions can be influenced by one or more factors, including peer pressure, groupthink and bracketed morality. There are other factors, but these are the three that I believe play the largest roll in the breakdown of ethical behavior. 

To read the complete essay, visit the Publications webpage on the Association of the United States Army's website.

Essay excerpt originally published on AUSA.org on October 12, 2020

Image credit: First Lieutenant Angelo Mejia, U.S. Army