Australian Army Journal

OPINION
Army’s Spirit
wellbeing and professional satisfaction, resulting in great benefits for Army such as
higher morale and improved retention. Army’s spirit is at the heart of Army life,
and while it cannot be costed, seen, heard or smelt, it is certainly valued and felt
by our members. While we often talk about our former stated values — courage,
initiative and teamwork — and now our most recent, respect (and I will discuss
this in far more detail later), the other four elements are often taken for granted
and nearly always absent from Army’s conversations about our values and culture.
I believe that a discussion of these elements is worth having as, along with our
stated values, these form the foundation of our human and collective spirit.
The elements — pride, faith, mateship and opportunity — are interconnected and
interdependent. If Army’s leaders foster and inculcate Army’s spirit in our people,
the result will be higher morale, which will both strengthen and lift our Army as
a respected institution. Army members who live and represent Army’s spirit are
positive role models for the small number of people who I call the ‘some of us’ who
feel that these are mere words on a poster or a ‘throwaway’ line — they are not!
Army’s spirit and our nine core behaviours are a guide for all of us as to how to
live our lives as Australian soldiers. I believe that the some of us misunderstand
and misrepresent our spirit and values which sometimes results in oxygen for
unacceptable behaviour and low personal standards. This is damaging to Army’s
standing as a respected national institution and adversely affects the wellbeing of
us all. The unacceptable behaviour and low personal standards of some have a
negative impact on us all, as individuals and as an organisation. Our reputation is
based on how we behave towards one another and towards those outside Army,
whether in or out of uniform. Being a soldier is a 24/7 profession. Being a soldier is
a way of life.
I believe that our officers and soldiers represent the best of Australian society.
Few armies can make this claim. The human qualities that motivated us to join and
to serve our nation are inherent in our stated values, but just as important are the
five additional elements I have highlighted. It is the responsibility of Army’s leaders
to continually draw attention to the importance of Army’s values and to foster a
leadership environment in which Army’s spirit can flourish. This environment will be
one in which our officers and soldiers look forward to parading each day — a very
effective retention measure, and one which supports personal and professional
wellbeing and satisfaction.
Australian Army Journal
Culture edition 2013, Volume X, Number 3 Page 204