U.S. Soldier's Creed
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The U.S. Soldier's Creed is a set of values and morals that all U.S. Army personnel are encouraged to live by. It provides a brief overview of the ethics and morals of the United States Army.
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[edit] Current Version
The current version of the Soldier's Creed is a product of the "Warrior Ethos" program authorized by Army Chief of Staff Eric K. Shinseki in May 2003[1] and was written by Matt Larsen, a Ranger and founder of the US Army Combatives School. It was first presented to senior Army leaders on June 7, 2003[2]. It seems to have been discussed in Congress in a "Hearing on Army Issues" held by Senator John W. Warner on or about November 19, 2003.[citation needed] It was first published in the magazine Infantry on December 22, 2003.
- I am an American Soldier.
- I am a Warrior and a member of a team.
- I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
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- I will always place the mission first.
- I will never accept defeat.
- I will never quit.
- I will never leave a fallen comrade.
- I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough,
- Trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
- I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
- I am an expert and I am a professional.
- I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
- I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
- I am an American Soldier.
(Soldiers will typically shout "Hooah!" at the conclusion of the Soldier's Creed.)
[edit] Warrior Ethos
The U.S. Army Warrior Ethos is a set of standards that all U.S. Army soldiers are encouraged to live by. It is meant to be the core embodiment of the soldier's mission. It is cited in the second section (bold) of the U.S. Soldier's Creed.
[edit] Previous Versions
This version dates from the Post-Vietnam War era.
- I am an American Soldier.
- I am a member of the United States Army -- a protector of the greatest nation on earth.
- Because I am proud of the uniform I wear, I will always act in ways creditable to the military service and the nation it is sworn to guard.
- I am proud of my own organization. I will do all I can to make it the finest unit in the Army.
- I will be loyal to those under whom I serve. I will do my full part to carry out orders and instructions given to me or my unit.
- As a soldier, I realize that I am a member of a time-honored profession--that I am doing my share to keep alive the principles of freedom for which my country stands.
- No matter what the situation I am in, I will never do anything, for pleasure, profit, or personal safety, which will disgrace my uniform, my unit, or my country.
- I will use every means I have, even beyond the line of duty, to restrain my Army comrades from actions disgraceful to themselves and to the uniform.
- I am proud of my country and its flag.
- I will try to make the people of this nation proud of the service I represent, for I am an American Soldier.
