- army.mil/values/
- mc.edu/rotc/files/6213/1471/7258/MSL_201_L02a_Army_Values.pdf
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LDRSHIP
Written by Jenifer Chrisman on July 20, 2015.
Loyalty – Bear true faith and allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit and other Soldiers.
Duty – Fulfill your obligations.
Respect – Treat people as they should be treated.
Selfless Service – Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
Honor – Live up to all the Army values.
Integrity – Do what’s right, legally and morally.
Personal Courage – Face fear, danger, or adversity [physical or moral].
LDRSHIP, an acronym for The Seven Core Army Values, is based on America’s centralized cultural beliefs: love of freedom, respect for the individual, sacrifice for others and deference to the laws of the land. These values describe the sacrifices, history and heritage of this country and its people.
From Basic Training onward, Soldiers are taught to live up to the Army Values, on and off the job. Embracing these values is the essence of their primary mission, purpose and oath: to protect the United States and its way of life.
The pursuit of LDRSHIP is the pursuit of excellence. Idealistic and proud, it is the foundation on which this country was built and what being a Soldier is all about.
Loyalty: Bearing true faith and allegiance is a matter of believing in and devoting yourself to something or someone. A loyal Soldier is one who supports the leadership and stands up for fellow Soldiers. By wearing the uniform of the U.S. Army you are expressing your loyalty. And by doing your share, you show your loyalty to your unit.
Duty: Doing your duty means more than carrying out your assigned tasks. Duty means being able to accomplish tasks as part of a team. The work of the U.S. Army is a complex combination of missions, tasks and responsibilities – all in constant motion. Our work entails building one assignment onto another. You fulfill your obligations as a part of your unit every time you resist the temptation to take “shortcuts” that might undermine the integrity of the final product.
Respect: In the Soldier’s Code, we pledge to “treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same.” Respect is what allows us to appreciate the best in other people. Respect is trusting that all people have done their jobs and fulfilled their duty. And self-respect is a vital ingredient with the Army’s value of respect, which results from knowing you have put forth your best effort. The Army is one team and each of us has something to contribute.
Selfless Service: Selfless service is larger than just one person. In serving your country, you are doing your duty loyally without thought of recognition or gain. The basic building blocks of selfless service is the commitment of each team member to go a little further, endure a little longer, and look a little closer to see how he or she can add to the effort.
Honor: The nation’s highest military award is The Medal of Honor. This award goes to Soldiers who make honor a matter of daily living – Soldiers who develop the habit of being honorable, and solidify that habit with every value choice they make. Honor is a matter of carrying out, acting, and living the values of respect, duty, loyalty, selfless service, integrity and personal courage in everything you do.
Integrity: Integrity is a quality you develop by adhering to moral principles. It requires that you do and say nothing that deceives others. As your integrity grows, so does the trust others place in you. The more choices you make based on integrity, the more this highly prized value will affect your relationships with family, friends and the fundamental acceptance of yourself.
Personal Courage: Personal courage has long been associated with our Army. With physical courage, it is a matter of enduring physical duress and at times risking personal safety. Facing moral fear or adversity may be a long, slow process of continuing forward on the right path, especially if taking those actions is not popular with others. You can build your personal courage by daily standing up for and acting upon the things that you know are honorable.
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