The Fires Professional

Last month, the chief of staff of the Army held a senior leader conference at West Point. One of the many things we discussed was the profession of arms and being a true professional, deserving of being called a Soldier. The theme for this edition of Fires is “The Fires Professional,” which ties directly to the publication of Army Doctrine Reference Publication (ADPR) Number 1 (draft), The Army Profession, dated September 25, 2012. The most senior Army leaders have officially validated what Soldiers have always known. We are professionals. We are “a unique vocation of experts, certified in the design, generation, support, and ethical application of land combat power, serving under civilian authority and entrusted to defend the Constitution and the rights and interests of the American people.”

Defining the word ‘professional’ is not a simple task. Webster has several definitions; however, there are two which best suit our profession as Fires Soldiers. “A professional is one who engages in one of the learned professions characterized by or conforming to the technical skill or ethical standards of a profession. A professional exhibits good judgment, a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner and professional behavior in the workplace.” As professional Soldiers, society grants us an enormous amount of responsibility. We are the one percent of the population who chooses to swear an oath to protect the Constitution of the United States and obey the orders of the president. Our service is vital to a healthy, free society, yet the same services society requires of us, most are incapable or unwilling to perform themselves.

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