Values Army

Group Structure & Unit Cohesiveness in the United States Army This paper offers critical evaluation of the United States Army, giving clear, descriptive outlines of what is like to be a member of an elite unit with a perspective of the group structure and the meaning and values of the group. Bibliography cites no references. The ability to function as a group member: there is no I in team.

There are many institutions and groups that have a strong hold and effect upon many individuals when the join, for instance, a young man just turned eighteen joins the Army, one of the biggest and most well-known groups within the world, whatever his reasons for joining there is a strong need to belong, to fit in and to achieve what his superiors are teaching him to its highest point. The young man was myself, I joined the United States of America's Army in the 1970's as an officer candidate.

From 1980n through to 1982 I was involved with an Infantry unit as Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion 21st Infantry BDE U.S. Army based at Ft Stewart, GA. Through joining the Army I became part of unique unit of men and women who sought to serve their country through loyalty, this was brought out in us to see and carry the true faith with a non-optional allegiance to the United States of America's Constitution.

Moreover it was to the Army your unit and men of the Army, in other words we were taught to be loyal to country unit and colleague, something that is instilled and carries forth within my own personal life as without the loyalty of friends and country there can be no trust and respect, which in a combat situation could cost lives.

We were also taught to fulfill our duties and those placed upon us by the country and senior officers, our obligations must be met with infinite care, this also instilled upon us a respect of other people and their property for if we respected our fellow man they in turn would respect us, something that did not always happen but it was for us to practice not expect others to be perfect.

In the role as members of the United States Army we were always expected to put the country we served first, this goes back to the loyalty practice of country unit and colleagues, for if we became selfish individuals the unit and company we served in could no longer function as perfect tight knit group and lives would be at risk, if not the safety of the civilians in our own country who trusted us to protect them.

The Army also gave us the pride and honor to live up to the name and uniform we wore with pride, for we were America's finest, the pride and cream of the Armed services. Following the values, codes and ethics instilled within us not just to be good Americans but members of fighting units that everyone could be proud of, giving us an integral part of life with the use of moral codes to do what is right and legal with no damage to our moral codes.

The Army also gave us something that can never be given in every day life and situations, it gave us our own personal courage, we faced death and danger every day, this was in some cases even on the training arena when we would use live fire training course, this fear of putting a foot wrong or not ducking into a trench quick enough did not so much as scare us but gave us more impetuous to carry on to strive to survive, the fear and survival gave us the physical and moral courage to carry on where others in civilian life may have fallen.

The values within the Army have changed over the centuries since the first regular Army of the United States was formed for the War of Independence in 1776, yet although the values have changed evolving with time the morals and ethical codes have not, the ideology is set to bring forth the character and courage of individuals they set off the new foundation of a man who knew nothing and gains everything he wants to know or do.

Although many young men when they enter the Army already have a foundation of their own moral codes and values, which have slowly developed through their years of integration with society, these values and codes are slowly changed or developed by the Army to enable the individual to become one of many as part of a free thinking but also collective thinking organization, binding the men to each other into a professional close knit unit of men in uniform not boys in the school yard.

It these values that have formed us as part of a group, giving us comfort and safety to belong, to trust and respect our fellow men, there can be no negotiation on these values or codes they are set in stone until time evolves them to fit the next generation, they are there to save lives and protect us in every situation we may face.

Through my time as an officer in the Army I have gained many rewards through not only my own tireless endeavors to achieve and strive for the respect that the Army has opened for me. Working within a group environment it has taught me to trust others around me respect them as they respect me. They have brought out qualities that were dormant within my persona, such as leadership skills, the ability to cope with difficult situations and others who need a guiding hand or voice in times of stress.

Also to have the courage of my convictions to understand what I actually am and know what I must do in any given situation to give me the ability to do the actual act of leading my men and group. The group situation has also allowed me to find myself in ways that I never thought could happen in civilian life such as bring forth my confidence learn new techniques, languages and skills such as technical courses for information systems.

Working within the Army and group unit it has given me many gifts to take through life, however one major gift has been the.