Ethical Issues in Question in the Ethical Vignette

Officials in the Department of Defense (DoD), like those in any other profession, are required to act ethically at all times to maintain a positive reputation of the profession of arms and build trust among members of the public. To do this, officials must be able to accurately identify ethical issues when they arise in the workplace. An ethical issue is a situation that compromises, either partly or in whole, one or more moral values or standards of professional ethical behavior (Drolet et al., 2023). The ethical issue that the protagonist (the commanding officer) in the vignette faces is whether to allow the cover up of violations of Navy protocols in order to portray a positive image of his division among his superiors during a personnel inspection. There is concern that three sailors in the officers division may not meet the personal fitness standards of officers in the Navy, and this would lead to issues with the visiting officials.

The 2RP tool provides a means for the commanding officer to make an ethical...

The rules perspective examines whether an action is right based on principles, norms, rules, or laws. One of the fundamental rules governing the military profession is the rule of absolute truthfulness, which calls for honesty and integrity...…character factors, peoples rights, or results to act otherwise. Based on the 2RP analysis, the most appropriate course of action would be to openly reject the advisors cover-up suggestion, remind them of the obligation to remain truthful at all times, and go on with the scheduled visit. As part of protecting rights, the commanding officer should call the errant soldiers and explain the risk that they face in the meeting with the officials for failing to observe Navy regulations. This would ensure that the sailors are adequately prepared for what may transpire during the inspection parade, and that they know their mistake and can own up to it. This decision would also help curtail such mistakes among…