Ethics Case

"Do unto others as you would have others do unto you."

-Matthew 7:12

I choose this quote to represent my personal philosophy of my ethics and morals; the "golden rule" to me embodies our most cherished values that we can live by professionally and personally. When you are put into a position of power professionally and/or place in a leadership role as being a husband, you should treat people as they would like to be treated; and never forget where you came from knowing that you were once on the receiving end. My philosophy is one of respect, integrity, teamwork, and values. In my opinion a man living by the ethic and moral that I live by, is someone who is loyal, efficient, articulate, dedicated, trustworthy, and respectful. It takes profound stability to be able to understand the needs of your family, friends, and even the people you lead in the workplace. Always lead by example, and consider your actions and the impact you have on them.

In my current workplace which is the United States Air Force, the foundations in which its core values are based are solely on Ethics. The question is does the Ethics of the United States Air Force reflect what is mission entails? I would say it has too, in order for it to be considered the most outstanding Air Force Unit in the world. A person's code of ethics can help them excel as a current manager or future manager of a workplace; or my code of ethics can cause myself problems, as I manage my workforce. Ethics means different things to different people, but the definition of Ethics according the dictionary is as follows: Ethics is "the study of morality." Also it can mean the principles of conduct governing an individual or a group. (Velasquez, 2012) Finally, ethics is that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

Ethics dictate the way a person thinks and act. According to what that person believes in, it is going to guide them in the decision that they are going to make whether that may be right or wrong. Ethics is a requirement for human life; it is our means of deciding a course of action. Without it, our actions would be random and aimless. There would be no way to work towards a goal because there wouldn't be a way to pick between a limitless number of goals. Even with an ethical standard, we may be unable to pursue our goals with the possibility of success. To the degree which a rational ethical standard is taken, we are able to correctly organize our goals and actions to accomplish our most important values. Any flaw in our ethics will reduce our ability to be successful in our endeavors. (Landauer, J & Rowlands, J, 2001)

Ethics plays a big role in the military and is the foundation of the values of each branch of service. In the Air Force, the mission and basis of its core values is described as: "The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win...in air, space and cyberspace.

To achieve that mission, the Air Force has a vision: The United States Air Force will be a trusted and reliable joint partner with our sister services known for integrity in all of our activities, including supporting the joint mission first and foremost. We will provide compelling air, space, and cyber capabilities for use by the combatant commanders. We will excel as stewards of all Air Force resources in service to the American people, while providing precise and reliable Global Vigilance, Reach and Power for the nation."

The Air Force has three core competencies: Developing Airmen, Technology-to-Warfighting and Integrating Operations. These core competencies make our six distinctive capabilities possible: Air and Space Superiority: With it, joint forces can dominate enemy operations in all dimensions -- land, sea, air and space. Global Attack: Because of technological advances, the Air Force can attack anywhere, anytime -- and do so quickly and with greater precision than ever before. Rapid Global Mobility: Being able to respond quickly and decisively anywhere we're needed is key to maintaining rapid global mobility. Precision Engagement: The essence lies in the ability to apply selective force against specific targets because the nature and variety of future contingencies demand both precise and reliable use of military power with minimal risk and collateral damage. Information Superiority: The ability of joint force commanders to keep pace with information and incorporate it into a campaign plan is crucial. Agile Combat Support: Deployment and sustainment are keys to successful operations and cannot be separated. Agile combat support applies to all forces, from those permanently based to contingency buildups to expeditionary forces. The Air Force bases these core competencies and distinctive capabilities on a shared commitment to three core values -- integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do (USAF,2012)

In most cases, servicemen and women learn about military ethics as soon as they enroll in the military. During military training, or "boot camp," there are certain ethical guidelines that are reinforced and instilled in service members. Some of the most common military ethics include concepts that involve responsibility, honor, trust, accountability, and loyalty. During basic military training, service members learn what these ethics mean to the military and are required to abide by them to remain in the military. Eventually, military ethics become a part of military life and become habitual standards that servicemen and women live by.

According to the Lawrence Kohlberg Three Levels of Moral Development, in Stage Four: Law and Order Orientation. Right and wrong at this mature conventional stage are based on loyalty to one's nation or society. The laws and norms of society should be followed so society will continue to function well. The person can see other people as parts of a larger social system that defines individual roles and obligations, and he can distinguish these obligations from what his personal relationships require (Velasquez, 2012). This theory goes hand in hand in what the military expects out of each service member that raised their hand and says the oath of enlistment that will obey and follow the law and order orientation.

When military ethics are violated, there is often a price to pay. The military member that has violated the ethic will likely incur a reprimand or other consequence such as being subject to administrative military discharge actions. If the ethic that was violated has resulted in criminal misconduct, disciplinary action may extend into the military justice system and legal action will occur

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