Respect in the Military

Respect in the Military

What is respect? Respect can be in various forms. It can be knowledge, self- awareness, trust, character, honesty, understanding, and a positive attitude. But respect also has to be earned. If you can’t respect yourself then you won’t be able to respect others. To gain respect you have to treat others the way you would want to be treated. Respect is something that the Army takes very seriously.

Respect is one of the seven army values. For as long as the U.S. Army has been around, respect has been engrained in the Army culture. Respect is not only a soldier’s duty but it is essential for the survival and unity of the U.S. Army and U.S. military as a whole. Respect ensures that the Army’s mission is carried out successfully and order is kept. Disrespecting another solider, especially a Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) or Commissioned Officer is not tolerated. So much so that it is actually punishable under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) if a lesser ranking solider disobeys a lawful order from a NCO or commissioned officer.

Without respect, unit cohesion would greatly suffer. You cannot possibly work as a team without respect. Soldier moral would be in disarray and many lives would be lost as a result. It simply would be impossible to carry out the Army’s mission if soldiers didn’t respect one another and their superiors. Non Commissioned Officers and Commissioned Officers are put in charge of soldiers for good reason. They have been taught how to effectively lead and make sure the mission is completed properly. Non Commissioned Officers are leaders of soldiers and should be treated with the upmost respect. Nobody is more professional or more knowledgeable than a NCO. They have climbed the ranks and were once in a junior enlisted soldier’s shoes. They bring great experience and wisdom. A junior enlisted soldier can greatly benefit from respecting and following the example Non Commissioned Officers set. They are called the...