This reflective essay explores the personal and collective meaning of the Profession of Arms. Drawing on General Douglas MacArthur's words and foundational military values, the author argues that military service is simultaneously a call to sacrifice, a collective obligation to defend the nation, a disciplined vocation requiring legally sanctioned force, and ultimately a calling that transcends ordinary employment. The essay emphasizes loyalty, duty, honor, and service before self as the defining characteristics that distinguish the Profession of Arms from all other professions, and reflects on what it means to voluntarily step forward to serve and defend the United States Constitution.
According to Hoang, no profession can be likened to the Profession of Arms. In his view, arriving at a precise definition of the Profession of Arms is itself a difficult task. This is particularly the case given that the meaning one attaches to the "Profession of Arms" is largely personal and internal. It was General of the Army Douglas MacArthur who once pointed out that:
Yours is the Profession of Arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in war there is no substitute for victory, that if you lose, the nation will be destroyed, that the very obsession of your public service must be Duty, Honor, Country... (Bonn, IX)
As members of this noble profession, our number one goal is to serve the people of this great nation by, among other things, securing it from any external threat. For this reason, we are called upon to put the interests of our country before those of self at all times. To me, the Profession of Arms is a call to sacrifice. As is the case in many other professions, the Profession of Arms involves a certain degree of occupational risk. Indeed, due to the nature of our operations and the lethality of our tools of trade — our weapons — we encounter a higher level of risk in the course of defending our country from external aggression.
For this reason, unlike most professions, we are always prepared to sacrifice our own personal safety in service to our country. President Obama has pointed out that the death of soldiers in the execution of their mandate is "a reminder of the extraordinary sacrifices made by the men and women of our military..." (Abell 71). The willingness to accept that risk — and to press forward regardless — is perhaps what most fundamentally sets the Profession of Arms apart from civilian vocations.
To me, the Profession of Arms also represents our collective obligation to serve and defend our nation. Those of us who serve in this noble profession have elected to voluntarily step forward not only to serve the country but also to defend its constitution. The Profession of Arms is therefore a union of comrades. All those in service exhibit similar values regardless of their length of service. Indeed, as the U.S. Department of Defense observes, the reputation of the Army is largely founded on not only the actions but also the values of its soldiers (81).
As a member of the Profession of Arms, I fully understand that, depending on the prevailing circumstances, my duties call for the disciplined utilization of legally sanctioned force. As a Profession of Arms, the Army is a vocation like no other. In addition to applying their combat power, soldiers are also expected to serve under civilian authority. For this reason, any individual who serves in this profession is not only an expert but also a volunteer.
"Soldiers apply force under civilian oversight"
"Loyalty and duty distinguish military from other professions"
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