Army Leader Ethics.pdf - UNC Charlotte Army ROTC

128 ■ SECTION 5unite members of all the Services in their common purpose: defending the Constitutionand protecting the nation’s interests, at home and abroad, against all threats.Under the Constitution, Congress, representing the people, has authority “to raise andsupport Armies…[and] To provide and maintain a Navy.” Congress also passes laws thatapply to the land and naval forces and appropriates funds for their missions. The Constitutiondesignates the president as commander in chief of the Armed Forces. Once the Congresshas approved the use of force, the president directs that use. The judicial branch interpretslaws passed by Congress as they apply to the Armed Forces and the authority of the presidentas commander in chief. Thus, the military is responsible to the legislative, executive, andjudicial branches of the government in their separate functions.As a platoon leader, you will be part of a chain of command that starts with thecommander in chief and passes through the secretary of Defense, the secretary of the Army,the Army chief of staff, on down to your brigade commander, company commander, andyou. All of you have the same responsibility to uphold and defend the Constitution of theUnited States. That is what the American people expect of you—and they expect you todo it as ethically as possible.Honoring Your Oath as an Army OfficerOn taking the Army oath, you enter into an agreement with the nation, its leaders, and yoursubordinates. These subordinates deserve competent, professional, and ethical leadership. Theyexpect you as an Army leader to respect them as valued members of an effective and cohesiveorganization. They expect you to embrace the tenets of ethical leadership.