The Army: What it means to be a Member of the Profession of Arms

The sky is dark, the stars are out, and the night is cool. Most everyone is sleeping except for the Soldiers and aircrews on Kandahar airfield getting ready for that nights air assault deep into the Sangin valley in southern Afghanistan. On board the aircraft, Soldiers look to their left and right, quietly rehearsing their mission and preparing to take off into the unknown. Fifteen aircraft, consisting of UH-60’s, CH-47’s, and AH-64’s, depart the airfield with an infantry task force on board not realizing the firefight that is about to ensue. Inbound to the landing zone, the aircrews and troops on board were prepared for a fight knowing the scout teams had already been in contact, but it was not until the last CH-47 departed did the chaos begin. On take-off from the landing zone, the last CH-47 was shot down and not knowing if there were survivors, the mission of the Special Forces, scouts, and infantry Soldiers on the ground immediately changed to securing the downed crew. They did this with no thought for their safety as they fought house to house and field to field until they finally reached the wreckage. Simultaneously, the AH-64 crews engaged the enemy from above while the UH-60 and CH-47 aircrews continued their mission under fire continuing to bring troops to affect the battle on the ground. Though the CH-47 crew did not survive, the Soldiers on the ground and in the air showed what it means to be a member of the profession of arms: fighting for the Soldiers to your left and right, caring for Soldiers and family, leading Soldiers, and maintaining the technical and tactical proficiency to accomplish the mission.

The fight to secure the CH-47 crash continued throughout the night, but Soldiers fought for each other on their left and right and being able to do this is essential to members of the profession of arms. The example regarding the fight to secure the CH-47 crash site is just one example. It is shown time and again how Soldiers are able to complete their daily wartime missions because they want to protect others within their unit. Trust and respect combined with the relationships and camaraderie built within a unit all lead to Soldiers wanting to fight not only to accomplish the mission, but more importantly, to protect the Soldier to their left and right. Building this type of team who will fight to protect each other is essential requiring leaders to motivate, train, and build their teams, whether it is a platoon, company, battalion, or higher.

Leading Soldiers is an essential asset as a member of the profession of arms. Anyone can be put in charge, but it is important for a leader to be able to motivate while providing purpose and direction to accomplish the mission. The leader needs to be out front, leading their Soldiers, and the leaders exhibited in the example were able to do just that. From the squad leaders on the ground all the way to the Task Force Commander, each of them continued to motivate their Soldiers to complete the mission despite insurmountable odds and the losses that were incurred. Leading in battle is just one aspect though as leadership is also important to our profession in peacetime also. Quality leadership is needed as Soldiers are required to conduct a variety of peacetime missions, such as humanitarian support in Haiti in 2010 or when the military was required to deploy in support of Hurricane Katrina relief in 2005. The ability to lead Soldiers under various conditions adapting to changing missions is important, and leaders can do this with a solid foundation of the technical and tactical skills required within their branch.

Being technically and tactically proficient is commonly heard within the profession, and it is critical for our leaders today to be that and more. On the ground and in the air, if the Soldiers and aircrews had not understood their job, then more lives would have been lost that night in the Sangin valley. The military focuses on the education of its Soldiers, enlisted and officers alike, throughout their career to ensure they have the knowledge and training needed to perform their mission. However, it is also important for our members of the profession of arms to not only rely on their required military training but to also seek self improvement by reading and learning on their own. Through their technical and tactical proficiency, our Soldiers are not only better equipped to accomplish their mission, but it also allows them to lead from the front setting an example for their subordinates, peers, and even their superiors.

Combined with effective leadership based on a foundation of technical and tactical proficiency, to be a member of the profession of arms, a person must not only care for their fellow Soldiers, but they must also care for their families. A Soldier’s family is important, especially during today’s prolonged deployment cycles, because they are a foundation and support network for the Soldier. There are multiple ways to care for families from unit Family Support Groups and time off for the Soldier to a leader sending a simple letter to the spouse or parents just stating how well a Soldier is doing. Each leader has their personal technique, but to be a member of the profession of arms, it is important to care for and place a focus on each Soldier and their family.

From leading Soldiers and caring for their families to fighting on the battlefield for the Soldier to their left and right while using the technical and tactical skills learned throughout ones career, an individual exhibits what it means to be a member of the profession of arms. Once of these aspects alone is not enough: an individual must want to fight for the Soldier to their left and right; leaders must be able to build teams to do this while accomplishing their mission and care for their Soldiers and families; and all Soldiers must be technically and tactically proficient. All of these combined is what it means to be a member of the profession of arms. Do you have what it takes to be in the Army, a member of the profession of arms?

MAJ Jennifer Phelps
Student, Command and General Staff College
U.S. Army Combined Arms Center
Fort Belvoir, VA

"The views expressed in this BLOG are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government."