Loyalty

LOYALTY

Loyalty is one of the Army’s seven values which is supposed to come about through the allegiance that soldiers show towards the U.S. Constitution, the Army their unit, and to other soldiers. Loyalty is a very important value for soldiers to possess because it maintains unity and stability throughout the armed forces. Without such unity and stability the Army would easily fail in it’s DUTY to engage in combat, which is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. When soldiers are loyal to their superiors, peers, and subordinates, they are able to maintain morale and a sense of camaraderie, which is especially necessary during highly stressful combat situations. That type sacrifice is what seems to be the type of action needed to cause a real sense of loyalty to develop among soldiers. Without loyalty soldiers would be in danger of falling into enemy hands. Soldiers often express that your real friend in the Army is someone who is willing to take a bullet for you during combat. It has to be developed through sacrifice and commitment. Loyalty is thus capable of strengthening the level of teamwork needed by soldiers to get the job done quickly and effectively. Loyalty is a value that has to be earned; leaders cannot just demand that their soldiers be loyal to both them and each other.

My husband who is a Retired Senior Non Commissioned Officer of 21 years and a decorated combat veteran has a favorite saying that he still uses that goes like this, “You don’t join the Army to make friends.” Well in one way that is correct and in another its not. No one joins because they want to make friends, they join for other reasons, but because of Loyalty to ones own unit and each other, soldiers naturally develop friendships that can help through the stress of combat and after it.

Both superiors and subordinates who show that they are looking out for each others best interests will undoubtedly gain loyalty from other soldiers.

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