Puckett returns to Strike to push ethics

Photo By Sgt. Joe Padula | Retired Col. Ralph Puckett, former battalion commander of 2nd Bn. 502nd Infantry...... read more read more

Photo By Sgt. Joe Padula | Retired Col. Ralph Puckett, former battalion commander of 2nd Bn. 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), looks on as the leaders of Strike Brigade discuss ethics among their Soldiers during a conference at Sportsman?s Lodge, Aug, 13. Puckett set up points and pieces of information on ethics and asked questions to launch conversations amongst the commanders and first sergeants and the sergeants major who were apart of the interactive audience.  see less | View Image Page

FORT CAMPBELL, UNITED STATES

08.24.2009

Story by Sgt. Joe Padula 

2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (AA) Public Affairs

✔ ✗ Subscribe

16

FORT CAMPBELL, KY — Ethics is defined as principles of right conduct, a code of behavior for a group, profession or individual. Military ethics is a set of practices and a philosophy to guide members of the Armed Forces to act in a manner consistent with the values and standards as established by military tradition.

Ethics is not only the foundation of the Army but of the nation as well. Ethics helped released this very nation from the grips of tyranny. Ethics is what abolished slavery, stopped fascism, ended Nazism and reversed communism. Today, ethics is defeating terrorism.

From its beginning to present, the Army has always marched for the principles of right, and ethical Soldiers have been there for every step.

The establishing of proper ethics into today's Soldier is not a desire but a necessity, for without it, the foundation in which the Army is built on is sure to collapse.

Retired Col. Ralph Puckett, former battalion commander of 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), believes in promoting the need of ethics.

Puckett focused his efforts on ethics during a conference with Strike Brigade leaders Aug. 13-14.

Twenty-eight years of service, which amounted to two Distinguished Service Crosses, two Silver Stars, three Bronze Stars, three Legions of Merit and five Purple Hearts, clearly vouches for Puckett's experience with leadership and ethics.

Puckett does not lecture, he simply believes in producing input from the crowd. He believes the combined experiences of the audience ultimately outweigh his.

"A lecture is a monologue and a conference is a conversational dialogue, [Puckett's] objective was to bring the brigade leaders to a point where we are learning from each other's experiences through conversation," Capt. L.B. Lockley, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BCT.

He gave up points and pieces of information on ethics and asked questions to launch conversations among the leaders who were apart of the interactive audience.

Questions like, "How to teach ethics?" and "Have ethics changed?"

1st Sgt. Brandi Whitman, first sergeant, HHC, 2nd BCT, said the conference helped inspire cross-level talks with others leaders to learn from each other's experiences and struggles.

"Ethics is still simply doing the right thing," said Puckett as he addressed the audience. "When we do the right thing, the situation will turn out for the good, just as it has in the past."

Some of the leaders agree and added more.

"Ethics is knowing what is right and then doing it, for that, ethics will never change, but ethics opposed to morality, morals have changed," said Lockley.

Some leaders, however, have different views.

"Ethics has changed, we've lost something somewhere," said Whitman. "When I first came in it was all about respect and loyalty and integrity to the unit and each other and now it is more a selfish 'to-his-each-his-own' situation."

Whitman, just like many, has her own beliefs and that is why it is important for leaders to discuss certain matters of ethics.

Puckett brought up the seven Army Values and how ethics and values coexist. If loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage are not the ways of a Soldier, then the Soldier's ethics are lost. Puckett knows the importance of all of the values yet he thinks one is the most important.

Despite Field Manual 22-100 saying all of the Army Values are equal, "I believe integrity is the most important," said Puckett. "If I'm a person of integrity I will be loyal, I will serve other people and I will have personal courage."

His belief is an opinion, so he again opened the conversation to the leaders. Some believe respect is the most important, and others believed it is personal courage.

"Every one of us will pick out one that we think is more important, and will define it in a way that makes it the most important," said Puckett.

In the end, maybe it boils down to simple leadership to help shape the ethical environment.

"Leadership is essential to creating ethical Soldiers," said Whitman. "Taking care of Soldiers and leading them properly is more important than anything else."

With all of the leaders within Strike Brigade discussing how to ensure the success of their Soldiers and thus learning off of one another's experiences, Puckett stood back and watched a brigade grow stronger.