Moral Leadership in an Increasingly Amoral Society

The US military has a clear track record of how it has defined what is right and wrong behavior for its members. From military law to doctrine, regulations, and policies, the military establishment has exhibited and employed a relatively stable moral value system to maintain good order and discipline. Conversely, American society has become more attuned to the rights of individuals. Contemporary society encourages members of its diverse population to establish their own values, consequently de-emphasizing any particular set of "rights and wrongs," and seemingly abandoning its historical moral basis in many areas. In light of this contrast in values, the military faces the challenge of assessing the degree to which it may be "out of step" with the society it serves, and deciding what, if anything, needs to be done about this difference.