Each year since 2012, Army leadership has announced an annual education and training theme. The training is developed in West Point, N.Y., at the Center for the Army Profession and Ethic (CAPE).
United States Army Garrison Italy was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to participate in this year's training from top professionals from the center, Sept. 15-17.
Sessions on this year's theme, Living the Army Ethic, were offered by Col. John Vermeesch, CAPE director, and Sgt. Maj. David L. Stewart, CAPE sergeant major, for military and civilian junior and senior leaders.
"The endstate is that we want a professional Army of trusted Soldiers and civilians who are inspired to honorably fulfill their oaths of service to the nation," he said.
Stewart offered thoughtful questions to the audience and requested participation. Most people were more than happy to oblige, and an interactive discussion about competence, character, and commitment ensued. All three C's, everyone agreed, were needed to establish trust.
"Trust is relational and emotional," Stewart suggested. "It is also systematic. We have trust in systems, and inside the Army, we have shared values and beliefs that often make it easier to trust."
The mission of the program is to reinforce trust, inspire honorable service, enhance esprit de corps, and strengthen the commitment to ethical, effective, and efficient stewardship of being an Army professional.
USAG Italy Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dennison, said leaders should set the standard for living the Army ethic and being a trusted professional, especially because this community is living on foreign soil.
"The Italian government allows us to be here, and they expect that we'll treat their country-- and their people-- right," Dennison said. "And we [as Americans] expect the local nationals to work and assimilate in the Army values.
"We should be preventing misconduct and setting the example. We should be doing what's right, and we should be the standard."
Being inspired to live the Army ethic will ensure that happens. The Army ethic, according to CAPE literature, is more than just laws and regulations-- which are just minimal acceptable standards of conduct. It is a clear concept of what is morally and ethically correct. It motivates and guides conduct of those who are joined together in a common, moral purpose. The Army ethic requires that Army professionals be strong in character, full competent in their chosen career field, and committed to duty and mission accomplishment. There is doctrine that supports the concept: Army Doctrine Reference Publication No. 1 (ADRP 1).
The CAPE trainers requested that leaders go back and share the training with others.
"We only fail as an Army if you leave here and don't have another conversation about this," Stewart said.
For more information and training materials, go to www.cape.army.mil.
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