Exemplary Conduct in the US Armed Forces

The first principles of the Armed Forces enacted by Congress in November 1775 require Virtue, Honor, and Exemplary Conduct:

“Article 1. “The Commanders of all ships and vessels belonging to the THIRTEEN UNITED COLONIES, are strictly required to shew in themselves a good example of honor and virtue to their officers and men, and to be very vigilant in inspecting the behaviour of all such as are under them and to discountenance and suppress all dissolute, immoral and disorderly practices; and also, such as are contrary to the rules of discipline and obedience, and to correct those who are guilty of the same according to the usage of the sea.”

Amid the recent Congressional hearings and calls for immediate action in response to the military sexual abuse and assault situation, the Undersecretary for Personnel and Readiness created a task force which is reviewing procedures for care and counseling for sexual assault victims, as well as ways for victims to report assaults, a civilian model rather than a military model for such matters. FPP has urged the consideration of teaching and enforcing the Congressionally-mandated Exemplary Conduct standard as the solution to this grievous problem.

FPP encourages the teaching and enforcing of Exemplary Conduct to solve whatever conduct problems exist in the United States or overseas. The Code should be taught beginning at entry level military training and be repeated as necessary. Exemplary Conduct, as defined in Title 10, is a real military solution to uphold America’s highest military standards of virtue, honor and to hold our military leaders accountable to a higher standard than civilians.