The Stars and Stripes reports on comments by SgtMaj of the Army Raymond Chandler, who took the time in Afghanistan to tell troops that being a Soldier of character was more important than being a Soldier of competence:

Too often in the past the Army has emphasized competency over character and commitment, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond Chandler told troops during town hall meetings at bases in eastern Afghanistan.   “The most dangerous person in our Army today is someone who is highly competent but has little or no character,” Chandler said. “Too often we tolerate mediocrity.”

Chandler noted that it is a lack of character, not a lack of competence, that has

led to troubling trends in sexual assault, suicide and hazing among members of the armed forces, he said.

In other words, just because you have the skills to be in the military doesn’t mean you have the character to be in the military.

As characterized by the Marine Corps Times, Marine Corps Commandant General James Amos had another interesting perspective related to this, as he proposed instituting new guidelines to “reawaken” the Corps “morally.”

But aside from being reactive to lapses in character, how should the US military screen potential troops for character or train them to have character?  After all, society today cannot even agree upon what “good” character is.

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