THE CONFERENCE
JSCOPE 99 topped last year's conference in size, and many claimed it was the most productive conference we have held. Meeting on 28 and 29 January 1999, members traveled to a new site: the Hilton Springfield Hotel in Springfield, Virginia. Presenters and attendees split concerning the merits of the core values approach to military conduct; discussion provided new insights and suggested new approaches to inculcating values in service members.
Secretary of the Army Louis Caldera focused on the Army program of core values in his keynote speech, claiming that the Army's efforts are bearing fruit. Mr. Caldera argued that the information program that supports the Army's training efforts in this area has been effective. Soldiers know what the values are and recognize that the Army is serious about promulgating them.
Lieutenant General Richard A. Chilcoat, President, National Defense University, presented the banquet address. He examined civil-military relations, reviewing the history and present status of this central component of US military culture and the impact it has on the value perspectives of those in uniform. Much discussion in this area concerns the gap between contemporary military culture and our sponsoring society-whether there is one, and if there is, just what it means and what should be done about it
THE PAPERS
Papers presented appear in their entirety elsewhere on the JSCOPE Web page. The titles are listed below for your convenience.
Dr. Edith Alexander & Ms. Dianne Jeffries, AFIS, "Public Affairs & Visual Information: A Review of Ethics Training at the Defense Information School"
Dr. James Barry, "The Origins of the Career Fear Problem"
LTC William Bell, USA, "The Impact of Poilcies on Organizational Values and Culture"
CPT Carlos Bertha, USANG, "The Heroism of Long-term Military Service"
LTC Reed R. Bonadonna, USMCR, "Doing Ethics with War Literature"
Mr. Peter Bowen, Sangreal Group, "Beyond Core Values"
COL Charles Brower IV, USA, "George C. Marshall: A Study in Character"
LCDR Gary Carr, USN, "A Core Values Academy"
LTC Timothy Challans, USA, "Theory in Practice: The Possibility of a Professional Ethic"
Dr. Manuel Davenport, Texas A&M University, "The Implementation of Core Values: The USMC Experience"
CDR (CH) Robert Feinberg, USN, "Building Trust in an Atmosphere of Career Fear"
LTC Willem H. Heijster, Royal Netherlands Military Academy, "An Ethical Decision-Making Model for the Royal Netherlands Army"
Dr. Pauline M. Kaurin, Pacific Lutheran University, "A Question of Loyalty: Two Rival Versions of Moral Education in the Military"
CDR Patrick Kelly, USCG, "Core Values Assessment in the Coast Guard"
MAJ Mark Mattox, USA, "Fifth Century Advice for Twenty-first Century Leaders"
Dr. Thomas J. Nagy, George Washington University, "Please Refute: The Military Core Values Movement is A Tool for Evading the Laws of Land Warfare"
MAJ Charles A. Pfaff, USA, "Core Values: The Problems of Justification and Motivation"
Mr. Neal J. Pollock, Department of the Navy, "Ethics, Morality and Civilization"
CAPT (CH) Arnold Resnicoff, USN, "The Core Values Movement Falls Short"
Lt Col William H. Rhodes, USAF, "The Core Values Movement & Organizational Assessment"
Lt Col (CH) Ken J. Stavresky, USAF, "A Spiritual Foundation for Air Force Values"
Dr. Jeffrey Tiel, Ashland University, "Virtue Ethics & Core Values"
Dr. James Toner, USAF AWC, "Temperance & the Profession of Arms"
Dr. Erik Wingrove-Haugland, USCGA, "The Foundations of Core Values in Western Ethical Theory"
COL Mark Hyatt, USAFA, Midshipman David Ostwind, USNA, Cadet Christopher Jarman, USMA, Cadet Joel Nelson, USAFA, and CDR Patrick Kelly, USCGA, conducted a panel discussion entitled "Core Values & Honor Training at the Service Academies"
THE BUSINESS MEETING
Through ballots distributed at the start of the conference, members elected new representatives to the Executive Board, as follows:
Colonel Charles Myers, USAF, United States Air Force Academy, was re-elected as the Air Force representative.
Lieutenant Colonel Steve Fenstermacher, USMC, was elected to succeed LTC John Cunnings.
Colonel Tony Hartle, USA, was re-elected as the Army representative and chair of the JSCOPE Executive Board.
The members of the JSCOPE Executive Board for 1998-99 are as follows:
Colonel Tony Hartle, USA Representative and Chairman
Department of English
United States Military Academy
West Point, NY 10996-1791
Colonel Charles Myers, USAF Representative
HQ USAFA/DFPFA
2354 Fairchild Drive, Suite 6l37
USAF Academy, CO 80840-6256
Dr. Frances V. Harbour, Civilian Representative
Dept. of Public/Int'l Affairs
George Mason University
4400 University Drive
Fairfax, VA 22030
Lieutenant Commander Rob Ayer, USCG Representative
Department of Humanities (DH)
US Coast Guard Academy
New London, CT 06320
Commander Joseph Catoe, USN Representative
Office of Character Development
United States Naval Academy
103 Fullam Court
Annapolis, Maryland 21402
Colonel Paul Maillet, Canadian Forces Representative
Director, Defence Ethics
Major-General G. R. Pearkes Building
8 CBS, 101 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa (Ontario), Canada K1A OK2
Lieutenant Colonel Steve Fenstermacher, USMC Representative
USMC Command & Staff College
2076 S. Avenue
Marine Corps Combat Development Command
Quantico, VA 22134-5068
SPECIAL NOTES
I will again cite the goals of JSCOPE to emphasize the significant function we seek to serve in perpetuating the JSCOPE activity. After yet another rocky year in the American military with respect to professional conduct and ethical issues, these goals appear even more important for the serving military, and they provide continuing justification for JSCOPE efforts.
1. Provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas relating to professional military ethics.
2. Foster the rigorous and systematic analysis of military issues of ethical significance.
3. Clarify the ethical norms and related behavioral expectations, which should guide and constrain the conduct of military professionals.
4. Enhance the quality of military ethics instruction.
5. Afford service commanders informed, timely analyses of the ethical impact of military service practices.
The Canadian Forces again generously supported the conference with a financial contribution to defray conference costs. On behalf of all members, I express our sincere gratitude. We again owe a particular thanks to the authors of papers presented as well. The documents are substantive and valuable. Available on the JSCOPE web page, they will be widely referenced (http://www.usafa.edu/isme). We also owe special thanks to the Department of Philosophy and Fine Arts, USAFA, which maintains the internet web page that has been so useful, and we certainly should recognize the work of COL Charles Myers, who organized and coordinated the program for JSCOPE 99.
Our topic for 2000 addresses a pressing concern for current and future military operations. Please give serious thought to contributing to the program next year and continuing our dialogue on the profession of arms as we enter a new century.