The Way of Life of a Soldier

The Army values are the way of life of a soldier that defines our actions. No matter our past or present beliefs, we adopt a set of values that are designed to guide us through our life challenges and the hardships of combat. The Army values define our actions both ethically and morally. This essay will introduce the idea of what it means to be a soldier. (1.1) This is an essay about what it means to be a soldier. (1.2)
From day one, when we arrive for Basic Combat Training, we are taught the Army values.

They are the seven words that soldiers live by loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. These are not very different from the set of values or beliefs, that were the norm in society when I was growing up. They are more than words for those of us who serve in the Army, they guide our way of life, ethically and morally, in every decision we make.

The Army defines loyalty as bearing true faith and allegiance to the U.S. constitution, the Army, your unit, and other soldiers. Loyalty requires you to devote yourself to your service and your peers and to defend our country no matter the cost; we must endure our duties, no matter the hardships we face. We need to fulfill our obligations; that is what we signed up for, after all. As kids, we grew up with different tasks that we were responsible for in the house, such as washing dishes or taking the trash out (amongst many others). Those were our duties, and we needed to fulfill them, no matter what. It is the same behavior that is expected by the Army to an extent.

Respect is another one of those values that is part of our day-to-day life, not only in the Army but also in society. It is fundamental that we are able to live in harmony and have respect for others. In order to prevent conflict and to be able to work together in peace, we must treat others as they should be treated. We grow up respecting our elders and respecting other people’s belongings, and it is no different in The Army, particularly because we spend more time with our peers than our own families.

One of the most difficult values to follow is that of selfless service, putting others and your country before yourself. We only live once, and to have the commitment to put others before yourself is not only admirable but is possibly one of the most honorable things we can do. An example of this would be the story of Pat Tillman, a professional football player who chose to join the Army after the September 11th attacks on the World Trade Center. He chose to leave the NFL and the money he was making to join the Army to fight for his country and protect our freedoms. His story, and the story of many others like him, are a great example of selfless service.

Another of the Army values, and the most important one for me, is integrity; choosing to do what is right, not only when you are being watched, but to have the self-discipline to do the right thing when no one is there to see you. It takes a lot of discipline, self-respect, and respect for others to do what is right, both legally and morally. There is a lot of responsibility inherent in being a soldier, and we need to be trusted to do what is right, on and off duty so that we can accomplish the mission. Staying out of trouble is an integral part of maintaining our unit readiness, and our integrity guides us to make the best choices. We need to have the trust of those with whom we serve at all times.

We often see the stories of those who have given their lives for our country. Those who face fear, danger, and adversity and yet still have the drive and personal courage that won’t let them quit. They put the lives of others and their love for their country before their own lives, at times paying the ultimate price. Those are the soldiers that live up to all of the Army values, with honor, doing all that it takes for our country. As soldiers, we should strive to serve with honor, show respect for those who served before us, respect for our country, and live all of the Army values. We should take pride in what we do in our specific MOS and steward the profession by being the best we can be.

The Army values are more than just words, they are our way of life. They are here to shape our character and to be our norm. The more we adhere to these values, the better citizens we are going to be. A better citizen becomes a healthier soldier, a productive soldier. We become more resilient and able to endure the hardships we face, and it builds cohesion within the Army. We can see these values all around us, they are in our creeds, and we see them in our leaders and our peers. It is up to us to be the followers, the servants, the leaders, and the ambassadors of our great nation. It is my hope that those reading this essay will appreciate why I want to be a soldier (2.1). In short, this is an essay on I want to be a soldier (2.2).

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