This Assignment Will Expand Your Understanding As It Relates ✓ Solved

This Assignment Will Expand Your Understanding As It Relates To Ethica

This assignment will expand your understanding as it relates to ethical issues and their impact on the Profession of Arms and the Army. It also reinforces the socialization of the Army Profession. Communicating and socializing ethical processing will help remind all Army professionals of their responsibility to the profession to maintain the highest standards of ethical conduct at all times. Ethical conduct is not something Army Professionals know, it is something Army Professionals do.

Identify an ethical issue facing the Army from a leader’s perspective. Describe the root cause of this issue and its impact on the Army. Then offer a recommended solution using the ethical lenses. The assignment must address the root cause, the impact on the Army, and demonstrate how you derived your solution (recommendation) using the ethical lenses. Write a 5-7 page essay (not including cover and references page) using at least 4 scholarly sources and a minimum of four Level One Headings including the conclusion.

Ensure your essay covers the following:

• Identify an ethical issue facing the Army today from a leader’s perspective.
• Describe the root cause of this issue and its impact on the Army.
• Propose a recommended solution utilizing all three ethical lenses.
• Explain how the solution was derived (the recommendation) based on the ethical lenses.

Formatting requirements include:

• Word count between 1300 and 2000 words (excluding title page, references, and appendices).
• Double-spaced, Times New Roman font, size 12.
• At least four Level One Headings (with the conclusion included in this count).

Suggested reading materials to enhance understanding include:

• Developing Ethical Organizations (14 pages)
• Ethical Decision Making: Using the "Ethical Triangle" by Jack D. Kem (10 Pages)
• The Ethical Framework (5 pages)
• Doctrinal Concepts (5 pages)

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Ethical challenges within the Army are complex and multifaceted, often rooted in structural, cultural, or situational issues that influence decision-making at various levels. This paper explores a pressing ethical issue confronting the Army today: the dilemma of moral injury among soldiers resulting from leadership failures and operational stress. The analysis begins by identifying the root causes of this issue, followed by an examination of its impact on the Army's readiness, morale, and ethical standards. A proposed solution grounded in the three ethical lenses—deontological, utilitarian, and virtue ethics—is then presented to demonstrate a comprehensive approach to addressing this critical problem.

Identification of the Ethical Issue

The ethical issue identified is the prevalence of moral injury among soldiers stemming from perceived leadership failures, ethical lapses, and operational pressures. Moral injury refers to the psychological, emotional, and spiritual distress resulting from actions or the failure to act that transgress personal or societal moral codes (Litz et al., 2009). In the Army context, leadership failures, such as neglecting soldiers’ well-being, engaging in ethical misconduct, or poorly managing combat stress, contribute directly to moral injury, undermining trust, cohesion, and discipline (Williamson et al., 2018).

Root Causes and Impact on the Army

Root causes of this issue include systemic pressures to meet operational objectives at all costs, inadequate leadership training on ethical decision-making, and a cultural environment that stigmatizes mental health struggles (Brennan, 2020). These factors lead soldiers to feel betrayed or abandoned, exacerbating feelings of guilt and shame. The impact on the Army is profound: decreased morale, increased attrition rates, compromised operational effectiveness, and erosion of the ethical standards that underpin the profession of arms (Klein et al., 2019).

Recommended Solution Using Ethical Lenses

The proposed solution involves developing comprehensive leadership training that emphasizes ethical decision-making, moral resilience, and mental health support programs. Applying the deontological lens ensures that ethical conduct is prioritized regardless of the outcome, emphasizing duty and adherence to moral principles (Kant, 1785). The utilitarian lens guides the decision-makers to consider actions that maximize overall well-being and minimize harm for soldiers and the organization (Mill, 1863). Virtue ethics encourages fostering moral character traits such as courage, integrity, and compassion among leaders, promoting a culture of ethical excellence (Aristotle, 350 B.C.).

Derivation of the Solution

The solution was derived through an integrative analysis of the three ethical lenses. Deontologically, soldiers have a duty to uphold ethical standards and support their peers; failures in leadership breach this duty. From a utilitarian perspective, the well-being of soldiers and the Army benefits maximally from ethical leadership and moral resilience programs, which reduce attrition and enhance operational readiness. Virtue ethics emphasizes cultivating virtues within leaders to foster a resilient, morally upright culture that guides behavior beyond mere compliance. Combining these perspectives results in a holistic approach aimed at ethical development, mental health support, and organizational accountability.

Conclusion

Addressing moral injury in the Army requires not only recognizing its root causes but also implementing ethically grounded solutions that promote moral resilience and organizational integrity. By applying the three ethical lenses—deontological, utilitarian, and virtue ethics—leadership can develop targeted strategies that reinforce ethical standards, support soldiers’ well-being, and sustain the ethical fabric of the Army. Such a comprehensive approach ensures that ethical conduct remains at the core of the profession of arms, ultimately enhancing the Army's readiness, cohesion, and moral integrity.

References

• Brennan, P. (2020). Leadership and ethical decision-making in the military. Journal of Military Ethics, 19(3), 157-172.
• Kant, I. (1785). Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals.
• Klein, C. M., et al. (2019). Moral injury among soldiers: An overview. Military Psychology, 31(2), 149-157.
• Litz, B. T., et al. (2009). Moral injury and moral repair in war veterans: A preliminary model. Clinical Psychology Review, 29(8), 695-706.
• Mill, J. S. (1863). Utilitarianism.
• Williamson, V., et al. (2018). Moral injury in the military: An overview. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(3), 287-295.