You know what bothers me these days? None of our leadership has any of the things they ask of me. I am in the US Army, and we have these things they call Values....the acronym is LDRSHIP. It stands for Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, and Personal Courage.
During my time in the Army they have all been tested in many ways. In the last year more so than any other time in my career. I was called in about 8month ago and sworn under oath / recorded and questioned about so of the things that had gone on in the Unit I work in. I at the time was a Commanders driver and worked in the Command Group. Daily I work with the COL. and the CSM, and one of them very much lived the Army Values, while the other did not. Without going into detail let's just say I was honest and interesting enough they asked me questions that I would have never thought anyone would know.
Fast forward 6 months, and I get emailed and called to do another sworn statement under oath. This time I was questioned by a legal team...again very similar questions. Again I answered the question exactly the same as the first time 6 months prior. They then asked me to put on paper what I had seen and what had happened to be signed under oath in front of the investigators. They gave me a few hours to go back to my office and write it all down as detailed as possible.
When I came back to turn it in and sign it under oath, interesting enough the CSM was leaving the legal office as I was coming in. He obviously knew why I was there and did not seem happy...I guess it sucks to be him. Anyways...I entered the room and the first thing the legal folks asked me was about a certain incident and if I was sure I remembered it right. I was sort of floored by the question, however I told them that maybe some people don't live by the Army Values but I did and my words were the truth. The Investigating Officer just smiled and asked me if I understood what I was putting down on paper for them before I was to be sworn in. I told him absolutely.....
I guess why I'm writing all this is simple......
No matter the position people have in life, if they are bad people, it does not excuse them from their actions. If they abuse their power, take advantage of their position, use their authority improperly, then they deserve what comes their way.
I was and am expected to live these Values.....I do, and I had no issue saying he didn't. In the end we need more people to stand up for what is right, and to stop people of authority from destroying our country and the values we all should have.
AI
