Cultural Values and Ethics No personal or professional decision happens in a vacuum. We are continually bombarded by external influences from family members, friends, culture, society, the media, and our mentors. Small decisions that seem simple and meaningless, such as choosing which clothes to wear to a job interview, are often based on personal and cultural values. Values influence decisions ranging on consumer choices to career choices. Therefore, it can be helpful for individuals to examine the cultural, personal, and organizational values that impact their lives.

I have had the unique opportunity to experience more than one cultural value system. Growing up in Puerto Rico, I was influenced by traditional ideas of gender roles, politics, and religion. My childhood experiences and the values that I absorbed from my culture and my family influenced my decision to enter the American armed forces before entering college. My value system included a respect for authority and tradition, both of which are integral to military life. In my culture,...

Because poverty is more common in Puerto Rico than in the United States, my value system included a strong drive to succeed and overcome any and all obstacles. Some of my teachers and school counselors provided a type of organizational value system from which I could make my final decision to enter into the armed forces twenty years ago.
During the first half of my military career I was heavily influenced by the organizational values of the United States Army. Values such as commitment, discipline, cooperation, respect for authority and respect for structure were some of the guiding forces that influenced important decisions I made in both my personal and professional life. One of the reasons I have succeeded as a career officer is because of my commitment to the organizational values of the army. For example, I was once caught in a conundrum in which a fellow officer and good friend wanted me to…