Steadfast Adherence to a Strict Ethical Code

You should always be as honest as possible to everyone; this means that you should only state the truth about what you know and not saying anymore than you know. You can be wrong about something but be honest about what you know, because integrity isn't about being right all the time, it is about relaying information to the best of your knowledge without overstepping your bounds. The reason this occurs is due to a misunderstanding with the information that you have or received.

The Fourth Edition of The American Heritage College Dictionary reads that integrity is a "steadfast adherence to a strict ethical code", and "the state of being unimpaired; soundness", and finally "the quality or condition of being whole or undivided". So without integrity the United States Military will be divided. In a profession where unity is key to the success of the mission soldiers can't be unimpaired or divided. Being divided reminds me of one the best military leaders of all time, Julius Caesar, and his famous quote of "Divide and Conquer". If there is any division in the United States Military then we will be conquered, the way to protect against this is to show integrity at all times, and not when it suites our purposes.

The words that the Army uses to describe integrity "legally and morally" are not open to discussion. Some might say that what is morally allowed by one person is morally wrong to another person. Lying in any religion or creed is wrong, and look at with disdain. So when the Army uses the word morally it is referring to the being truthful and honest which are what all religions and beliefs embrace. SSG Spencer told me that integrity is the one thing that can't be taken from you. You have to give it away. When people meet you for the first time they look at you as an honest person, they can't prove that you are not what you say you are, but you give it away when you tell lies about yourself and you embellish your means.

The question is really why do we lie, if it is so destructive, then why do we do it. These things that are about to be listed are reasons not excuses as to why we lie, and give away our integrity. Maybe we want to impress someone so we embellish about our lives and accomplishments so that we look good or even to look bad to them. Maybe we are scared to tell the truth for fear of a harsher punishment. Maybe we just thought that we would get away with it. The reason I am writhing this right now is because I lied to a Non-commissioned officer. What I did was wrong no excuses. The reason I was not at work was not because I had an appointment but because I didn't think it would be in my best interest, by the time that I finish breakfast and showering the time read 1030. I thought 20 minutes to get back to the office the time would be 1050. It gave me only 40 minutes of work time. Most of my job is distribution

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