Ethics Resources for Graduates of USACHCS

In 2016 all ethics blocks of instruction for the US Army Chaplain Center and School underwent an integrated concept approach and initial development process.  These changes resulted in new content reflective of the contemporary climate within the Army and ethical issues encountered by Soldiers and leaders within current areas of operation. Within the present CHBOLC format, students receive a total of 15 hours of instruction in the area of ethics. Click here for the Ethics Smart Book summarizing the Chaplain Basic Officer Leader Course (2017): CHBOLC ETHICS SMARTBOOK.  Students attending the Captains Career Course receive instruction addressing numerous topics such as military ethics, internal advisement, moral leadership, and resolving ethical dilemmas.  These advanced lessons also include a supervisory focus and challenge students to maintain a strategic perspective when applying content to future ministry settings. Career Course students receive a total of 40 hours of instruction to include being certified in the Arrmy Profession Ethics Trainer Basic Course (APET). Click here for the Ethics Smart Book summarizing the Chaplain Captain Career Course: C4 ETHICS SMARTBOOK

 

Contact the USACHCS Ethics SME with any questions or requests for materials not listed.

 

How to Develop and Execute Ethics Training

1. Examine the chaplaincy ethics (ICTLs) on the Chaplaincy Task Analyst page.
2. Download the tasks from CAR or ATN that you would like to train. Input and search on the task number or task title in CAR or ATN.
3. Read the performance steps and performance measures from each task.
4. Use the outline from the performance steps to create your training.
5. Collaborate with a trained chaplain ethics instructor to enhance your training.
6. Use resources on this page to enhance your training.
7. Plan and resource your training in conjunction with your S3.  Use the Orders Process.
8. Conduct the training using the Army Learning Model.
9. Look for a demonstration of competency in the learner to see if they meet the performance objective of the task.
10. Evaluate training using the AAR process.

 

Chaplaincy Ethics Training Aids & Additional Resources

To assess the ethical command climate of an organization, one may utilize the Ethical Climate Assessment Survey (ECAS). 

Ethical reasoning or ethical dilemma resolution is best achieved when employing the following ethical processing models: 

Army Ethical Processing Model 

Ethical Processing Model (Outline Version)   

Ethical Moral Decision Making Process (EMDMP)

Internal advisement may require a chaplain to assist others in ethical decisionmaking. The Ethical Processing Booklet may be used to familiarize oneself with the EMDMP process.  It may also prove useful in training others in MLT or useful in a counseling situation.

A knowledge of Just War Tradition is beneficial to any chaplain conducting internal advisement in reference to ethical and moral conduct in combat or in regard to mission planning.  Use the Just War Tradition Reference Guide as a tool for such important occasions.

It is also critical for UMTs to understand the ethical worldviews that Soldiers and leaders may subscribe to.  The Ethical Worldview Resource may help shape ministry and how one may communicate with various members of the formation.

 

Articles, Monographs, and Presentations Related to Ethics

Ethics, Combat, and a Soldier's Decision to Kill

Lessons from Yusufiyah

Military Leader's Obligation to Justify Killing

What Does Contemporary Science Say About Ethical Leadership?

Closing the Candor Chasm: The Missing Element of Army Professionalism

Lying To Ourselves

Resolving Ethical Issues in an Era of Persistant Conflict 

A Soldier's Morality, Religion, and Our Professional Ethic: Does the Army's Culture Facilitate Integration, Character Development, and Trust in the Profession?

The Army Officers' Professional Ethic - Past, Present, and Future

Ethics Training and Development in the Military

 

Moral Leadership Training Resources

Moral leadership training is a capability any UMT may provide for the benefit of both command and Soldiers.  Utilize these various resources to asist in planning and executing quality training events.

MLT Planning Sheet (doc) is a great template for initial planning and briefing to leadership.  This resource may be used early on to cast the vision for prospective MLT activities as well as to staff such events through proper Army channels within an organization.

Supervisory chaplains and subordinate chaplains should both understand the foundational task for conducting MLT.  Please review BN CH MLT Task for such understanding, event planning, and possible UMT sustainment training.

This resource is an example of what MLT may encompass in a more formal and strategic approach. (All American Ethics MLT Resource) This product is the result of a battalion chaplain's creativity and employment of the unit's respective history.

When using movies or video segments for MLT purposes, be sure you do so ethically and legally.  Refer to Lawful Use of Video for Teaching Purposes (doc).

 

Ethics Related Publications

ADP 6-22 Army Leadership and the Profession

DA Pam 165-19 Moral Leadership

Army Ethic White Paper

ATP 1-05.4 Religious Support and Internal Advisement

ADP 1 The Army

DOD Law of War Manual 2015 (pdf) (Updated 2016)

DOD 5500.07 Joint Ethics Regulation

 

Books on Ethics

The books listed here are not endorsed by the US Government, Department of Defense, the US Army, or the US Army Chaplain Center & School. These books are simply references that may prove beneficial when exploring various topics within the field of ethics. You should inquire with your religious denomination or center for education to learn more about religious approaches to ethical conduct and morality from your tradition and how it aligns with the Army Ethic and the Army Profession.

 

Ethics

Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong by Louis Pojman and James Fieser

Moral Choices by Scott B. Rae

Beyond Bumper Sticker Ethics by Steve Wilkens

Questions That Matter by Ed. L. Miller

Choosing The Good by Dennis P. Hollinger

Ethics For A Brave New World by John S. Feinberg & Paul D. Feinbert

Back To Virtue by Peter Kreeft

The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle

Moral Courage by Rushworth M. Kidder

How Good People Make Tough Choices by Rushworth M. Kidder

Doing the Right Thing by Scott B. Rae

Sexual Morality in a Christless World by Matthew Rueger

 

Military Profession / Character

The Soldier and the State by Samuel Huntington

War, Morality, and the Military Profession edited by Malham M. Wakin

Forging the Warrior's Character by Dr. Don Snider

Character by Dr. J. Phillip London

Trust & Trustworthiness by Russel Hardin

 

Ethics of War & Peace / Just War Tradition

Just and Unjust Wars by Michael Walzer

The Morality of War by Brian Orend

The Warrior Ethos by Steven Pressfield

War and Christian Ethics edited by Arthur E. Holmes

War, Peace, and Christianity by J. Daryl Charles & Tmothy J. Demy

The Quest for Peace by James Turner Johnson

Just War Tradition and the Restraint of War by James Turner Johnson

The Just War by Robert W. Tucker

Biblical Pacifism by Dale W. Brown

Christian Attitudes Toward War and Peace by Roland H. Bainton

The Sword, the Cross, and the Eagle by Davis Brown

Islam and War by John Kelsay

The Holy War Idea in Western and Islamic Traditions by James Turner Johnson

 

Ethics & Leadership Related

Why CEOs Fail by David L. Dotlich & Peter C. Cairo

Overcoming the Darkside of Leadership by Gary L. McIntosh & Samuel D. Rima

The Lucifer Effect by Philip Zimbardo