US ARMY QUARTERMASTER CENTER & SCHOOL Historical Vignettes

"I" IS FOR INTEGRITY

We are a "values-based" Army. Our Army rests on the twin cornerstones of Ethics and Integrity. All soldiers have the responsibility to behave ethically – to "do what is right." And to act with INTEGRITY at all times.

That means that each of us is expected to have an inner sense of what’s right and wrong (both morally and professionally). And to have the courage to tell the truth at all times – even when the truth hurts.

The famous World War II and Korean War commander, and former Chief of Staff of the Army, GENERAL MATTHEW B. RIDGEWAY had this to say about integrity and moral courage:

"It has long seemed to me," he said, "that the hard decisions are not the ones you make in the heat of battle. Far harder to make are those involved in speaking your mind about some harebrained scheme which proposes to commit troops to action under conditions where failure seems almost certain, and the only results will be the needless sacrifice of priceless lives."

Given what any soldier is likely to experience in the course of his or her time in service, a great deal ride’s on the individual knowing right from wrong – and having the courage to do right, and speak the truth.

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The Army defines Integrity as: "The sum total of a person’s set of values; his or her private moral code."

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE IT?

WHY DO YOU THINK IT’S ONE OF THE SEVEN CORE VALUES?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOUR INTEGRITY IS CHALLENGED?

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