Leaders of Character

Guided Discovery.

Photo by Charlie Firth on Unsplash

Suggested Reading

• ADP 6-22, Army Leadership and the Profession

  • Pages 2-1 through 2-12 based on printed document (PDF pages 41-52)

  • Examination of the values and character of a leader

• Link to ADP 6-22 on the US Army Publishing Directorate

• This week’s Study: LDRSHIP

• All excerpts below are from ADP 6-22 unless otherwise noted

Introduction

***We’re trying something different this week: focusing on key excerpts and questions, without as much prose.

2-3. Character consists of the moral and ethical qualities of an individual revealed through their decisions and actions. Leaders must consistently demonstrate good character and inspire others to do the same. The close teamwork demanded to execute military missions at all levels requires that everyone in the Army share certain desirable character attributes. … Character attributes that are of special interest to the Army and its leaders are—

• Army Values.

• Empathy.

• Warrior Ethos and Service Ethos.

• Discipline.

• Humility.

2-5. The Army recognizes seven values that all Soldiers and DA Civilians must internalize. Embracing the Army Values is the hallmark of being an Army professional. Doing so represents a pact with teammates and the American people to be trustworthy and accountable. When read in sequence, the first letters of the Army Values form the acronym LDRSHIP:

• Loyalty.

• Duty.

• Respect.

• Selfless service.

• Honor.

• Integrity.

• Personal courage.

How do you talk about your values?
Should everyone be held to high character standards?
Do organization values matter? Should an organization be allowed to have bespoke values?

This Week’s Reading, Abridged

2-6. The first order of loyalty is to the Constitution and the ideals upon which it is based. One cannot remain loyal to the Constitution by being loyal to those who violate it. To create strong organizations, superiors, subordinates, and peers must embrace loyalty. One way that individuals demonstrate loyalty is by upholding all of the Army values.