Senior Leader Misconduct in the Army

Senior Leader Misconduct in the Army
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Introduction
The military is known for its professionalism and ability to execute complex missions effectively (Gentry et al., 2019). In addition, it is based on values of honor and integrity. Despite this, there are some factors that often threaten to shake the professionalism and cohesiveness of the military. One of these factors is senior leader misconduct. The misconduct may have far-reaching engage consequences that hinder the ability of the army to perform effectively. The purpose of this paper is to delve into the ethical issue of senior leader misconduct in the military. The paper will particularly focus on defining this issue, examine the root causes and discuss the impacts on the force. In addition, the paper will also recommend some solutions to the problem and investigate other implications.
Ethical Issue: Senior Leader Misconduct in the Army
Senior leader misconduct is one of the issues that pose an ethical dilemma in the military. The misconduct refers to inappropriate or undesirable behavior by high-ranking military officials. Examples of these behaviors include sexual harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power. Due to the position held by the perpetrator of the misconduct, a pandora box of ethical dilemmas open up when inappropriate behavior happens (Gentry et al., 2019). The following are some of these ethical dilemmas.
One of the ethical dilemmas is that the persons affected by the misconduct may suffer emotional distress and trauma yet feel powerless. Considering that the perpetrator of the misconduct is a senior official in the military, the affected persons may fear reporting the incidents resulting in psychological or other complications. The emotions of the affected persons may deteriorate and affect their ability to function effectively. For instance, sexual harassment has been shown to lead to low self-esteem and increased risk for anxiety disorders such as depression. Under normal circumstances, the affected person would report to the authorities when such an incident occurs. However, in this case, the affected person may fear reporting since the perpetrator is a senior person in the army. It follows that the ethical misconduct of senior leaders in the military cause ethical dilemmas.
Another ethical dilemma is the reduction of public trust in the army. The army has a set of values and responsibilities that they adhere to. These values maintain the integrity of the army and a high form of public trust. In any case, the public trust the army to protect the borders of the country as well as perform other duties to ensure the peace and well-being of citizens. When a senior leader in the army engages in misconduct, the implications include degrading the integrity of the army and losing public trust (Gentry et al., 2019). This phenomenon leads to a situation where the public and other players lose trust in the army. The impact is a far-reaching ethical dilemma where people and entities who are supposed to feel safe that the army is protecting them now have mixed feelings about how effective the army is.
In addition, some other misconduct by high-ranking military officials may include favoritism and discrimination. Whatever the misconduct is, the image of the military is likely to be greatly tarnished. The military is often considered a symbol of national pride and honor (Gentry et al., 2019). The heroic actions of the military have been celebrated numerous times. The military has also been instrumental in offering help and saving lives in times of disaster. It follows that the military is a highly respected organ. When a senior leader in the army engages in misconduct, people may view that as a portrayal of rot in the military. The great image that people have of the military may become tarnished. The result is an ethical dilemma that may be difficult to solve.
The Root Cause
Senior leader misconduct may be attributed to several factors. One of the key factors is the culture of seniority and superiority in the military. Senior-ranking leaders often have a significantly high amount of power. This power gives them great control and influences over the personnel below their ranks. This high level of power may create a sense of entitlement leading to abuse of that power. In addition, the long-lived culture of senior ranking officials having a lot of power and control may make them feel above the law (McQuiston, 2018). With this feeling, the senior leaders may engage in inappropriate conduct, believing they are immune to the consequences.
Evidence has also revealed that there lacks an effective system for reporting misconduct in the army (Gentry et al., 2019). This lack of effective reporting mechanisms is another reason why senior leader misconduct occurs in the army. The victims/ affected persons may fail to report the matter due to fear of retaliation or the fear that such an action will do more harm than good. Consequently, the lack of proper reporting systems may enable a culture of impunity among senior leaders leading to ethical misconduct. If there were better reporting mechanisms, leaders would fear being held accountable for their actions.
Another root cause of senior leader misconduct in the army is mental health issues. Evidence reveals that senior leaders in the military often face extreme levels of stress and trauma (McQuiston, 2018). As a result, they are at an increased risk for developing mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder as well as anxiety disorders. The leaders may engage in ethical misconduct as they attempt to cope with mental health issues. Mental health issues have been flagged as one of the major causes of ethical misconduct in the army. To cope, senior officials may engage in undesirable behaviors such as sexual harassment.
The dominance of men in senior leadership positions in the army is another root cause of ethical misconduct. T...