- Shock 52-page report finds dishonesty at all levels in the U.S. Army
- Warns officers have become 'ethically numb' and urges quick action
- Says leaders 'espouse lofty values' but slog 'through mire of dishonesty'
- Finds personnel expect requested information to be 'questionable'
- But notes staff are 'happy to go along with the illusion all is well'
Published: 08:55 EST, 20 February 2015
A damning official report claims dishonesty within the U.S. military is so endemic that everyone assumes they are being lied to at all times.
The shock report calls on officials to 'urgently confront the corrupting influence of dishonesty' within the army, warning officers have become 'ethically numb'.
The situation has become so bad, the executive summary concludes it has 'allowed leaders to espouse lofty professional values while slogging through the mire of dishonesty and deceit'.
Dishonesty: The report claims dishonesty is endemic in the army on all levels, discovering personnel expect to not be told the truth at certain points, and accusing officers of becoming 'ethically numb' (Stock picture)
The report's executive summary also claims 'much of the deception and dishonesty... is actually encouraged and sanctioned by the military institution'.
Report authors Leonard Wong and Stephen J. Gerras say it is often justified one of three ways: 'mission accomplishment', 'supporting the troops' or that the task or reporting requirement is unreasonable or 'dumb'.
They go onto note lying and 'adjusting the truth' is so common, military personnel who order a report do not trust its content.
The report authors, who interviewed staff at all levels in the army in order to compile the 53-page document, state: 'It appears that a peculiar situation where those requesting the information, and those supplying it know that the information is questionable.'
However, they add, personnel are 'happy to go along with the illusion all is well'.
Concerns: Former U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel sent a memo to military leaders before he stepped down from his post asking to deal with 'unethical or morally questionable behaviour'
The report, created for the Strategic Studies Institute and U.S. Army War College Press, say comes just a week after departing Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's final words of advice to senior military staff were to sort out 'unethical behaviour'.
According to CNN, Hagel wrote: 'The vast majority of our senior leaders are men and women who have earned the special trust and confidence afforded them by the American people.
'However, when senior leaders forfeit this trust through unprofessional, unethical or morally questionable behavior, their actions have an enormously negative effect on the profession.'
via dailymail
