Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession: Dishonesty in the Army Profession

Untruthfulness is surprisingly common in the U.S. military even though members of the profession are loath to admit it. Further, much of the deception and dishonesty that occurs in the profession of arms is actually encouraged and sanctioned by the military institution. The end result is a profession whose members often hold and propagate a false sense of integrity that prevents the profession from addressing--or even acknowledging--the duplicity and deceit throughout the formation. It takes remarkable courage and candor for leaders to admit the gritty shortcomings and embarrassing frailties of the military, as an organization, in order to better the military as a profession. Such a discussion, however, is both essential and necessary for the health of the military profession. Related products: Paid To Perform: Aligning Total Military Compensation With Talent Management can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/paid-perform-aligning-total-military-compensation-talent-management The Limits of Military Officers' Duty to Obey Civilian Orders: A Neo-Classical Perspective can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/limits-military-officers-duty-obey-civilian-orders-neo-classical-perspective Aspects of Leadership: Ethics, Law, and Spirituality can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/aspects-leadership-ethics-law-and-spirituality A Soldier's Morality, Religion, and Our Professional Ethic: Does the Army's Culture Facilitate Integration, Character Development, and Trust in the Profession? can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/soldiers-morality-religion-and-our-professional-ethic-does-armys-culture-facilitate Senate Ethics Manual, 2003 can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/senate-ethics-manual-2003

About the Author :
ABOUT THE AUTHORS: LEONARD WONG is a research professor in the Strategic Studies Institute at the U.S. Army War College. He focuses on the human and organizational dimensions of the military. He is a retired Army officer whose career includes teaching leadership at West Point and serving as an analyst for the Chief of Staff of the Army. His research has led him to locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia, and Vietnam. He has testified before Congress. Dr. Wong's work has been highlighted in news media such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, New Yorker, CNN, NPR, PBS, and 60 Minutes. Dr. Wong is a professional engineer and holds a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy and an M.S. and Ph.D. from Texas Tech University. STEPHEN J. GERRAS is a Professor of Behavioral Sciences in the Department of Command, Leadership, and Management at the U.S. Army War College. He served in the Army for over 25 years, including commanding a light infantry company and a transportation battalion, teaching leadership at West Point, and serving as the Chief of Operations and Agreements for the Office of Defense Cooperation in Ankara, Turkey. Colonel (Ret.) Gerras holds a B.S. from the U.S. Military Academy and an M.S. and Ph.D. in indus-trial and organizational psychology from Penn State University.