There has been a lot of debate regarding the "Profession of Arms". Is the American Soldier a Professional, or something else entirely?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 14:58:05 -0400

Websters defines professional as "characterized by or conforming to the technical or ethical standards of a profession, exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace". Is this enough to consider Soldiers professionals, or does it take a certain level or rank to reach this status?

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 10 at 2015 3:00 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:00:53 -0400

A professional is one who is trained in a profession and conforms to its standards, working ever forward. Using the old system. There are Apprentices, Journeymen, and Masters.

That said, it doesn't really take a certain rank to become a "Professional Soldier" however it might be more appropriate to say someone is an Apprentice level Soldier at X Rank, Journeyman at Y Rank, and Master at Z Rank.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Sep 10 at 2015 3:01 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:01:03 -0400

In a sense we are all professional Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen or Coast Guardsmen. We are trained and have excelled at what we do.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 3:22 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 15:22:11 -0400

Mr. Shababy-"Profession of Arms" indicates not only technical acumen, but dedication to a discipline. If it were other, anyone could put on a uniform, pick up a weapon and call themselves a "solider". I believe that what equates our profession to others is exactly this combination of hard earned expertise and devotion.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 10 at 2015 4:13 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:13:09 -0400

Depends on how high you want the bar. You can set the bar as low as "just being in the military" or as high as "much achieve xxx rank, educational level, etc...". It seems to differ by person.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 4:21 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:21:12 -0400

CPT Private RallyPoint Member, you left a key word undefined; "profession." Without ascertaining that definition, the meaning of "professional" is vague at best.

Keeping with your use of Webster: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/profession.
a : a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation
b : a principal calling, vocation, or employment
c : the whole body of persons engaged in a calling

I don't believe Webster's definition is good enough for us. If being a professional means conforming to the "technical or ethical standards of a profession," but a "profession" requires only "specialized knowledge and *often* [i.e. not necessarily] long and intensive academic preparation," then there may be no technical or ethical standards to which one can aspire.

I think a profession is *characterized by its ethics.* That is, we must have an ethic, or a values system, or a code by which to conduct ourselves. Therefore, being a professional means belonging to an institution guided by a code of principles to which the particular individual aspires and commits him/herself.

Rank is immaterial to being a professional. I love Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS's analogy to the apprenticeship system. Whatever we call it does not really matter.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 4:31 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:31:53 -0400

I mainly consider officers(warrants included) & career NCOs (e-6+) as being in the "profession of arms". Anything else especially lower enlisted are like conscripts/indentured servants and treated as such as most get out their first term. The ones who stick around and gain rank are entrenched. They make it more than a job and into a lifestyle aka "lifers".That is what I consider a professional, and not just someone serving as a bump on their way to post service college/employment.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 4:34 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 16:34:46 -0400

See the Soldier's Creed. "I am an expert, and I am a Professional." Enough said.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 11 at 2015 11:24 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:24:24 -0400

The first sentence of the NCO Creed says that "No one is more professional than I", so I would put my money on yes, yes we are!