1. Ethics
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1

2. Motivation Ethics are rules of conduct. Today, you'll learn about
Making ethical decisions
The U.S. Air Force’s core values
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

3. Lesson overview What are personal standards? What is a value system?
What are the core values of the U.S. Air Force?
How are morals and ethics defined?
What are cultural rules?
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

4. Lesson overview (cont’d)
How are ethical decisions made?
What are the traits of an ethical person?
What are the ethical traits of leaders?
What are moral courage and maturity?
What is a personal code of conduct?
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

5. Quick Write
Jot down three personal guidelines you would use to decide whether it would be right or wrong to take a specific action.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

6. What is ethics? Ethics Branch of philosophy Rules of conduct
Study of people’s most basic beliefs
Ethics deals with the struggle between good and evil.
Conduct—a key word when discussing ethics
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

7. What is ethics? (cont’d)
Four basic rules of ethics have endured.
Do good; avoid evil.
Be fair and equitable.
Respect the dignity of all people.
Be autonomous (self-governing).
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

8. What is ethics? (cont’d)
Guidelines derived from the four basic rules of ethics
Be honest.
Keep promises.
Obey and be loyal to proper authorities.
Be courageous.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

9. What is ethics? (cont’d)
Grow in knowledge.
Be willing to work.
Be moderate.
Maintain and enhance your health.
Do not harm people.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

10. What is ethics? (cont’d)
Habits
Most of our moral beliefs are based on habits we learned as children.
Habits can affect reputation, social status, finances, and overall sense of well-being.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

11. What is ethics? (cont’d)
Not all habits are right.
Habits are right when they are ways of helping ourselves and others.
Good habits help us develop our best potential and respect people’s basic rights.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

12. What is ethics? (cont’d)
Decisions seemingly unrelated to ethics may have an ethical aspect.
Scientists mix harmless chemicals to create disposable plastic containers.
This is helpful for restaurants for take-out service.
But plastic may harm the environment.
Ethical dilemma: which do we value more?
The convenience of the disposable containers
The environment
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

13. What is a value system? Value system
Set of ideals, beliefs, interests, likes, dislikes
Ideals we use every day to make decisions
Involves freely chosen behavior
Involves beliefs that are very personal to each of us
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

14. What is a value system? Our military has its own set of values.
Applies to all members of the Air Force family
The core values of the U.S. Air Force are Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

15. What is a value system? (cont’d)
Integrity First
Willingness to do right even when no one is looking
Moral compass, inner voice of self-control
Basis for the trust needed in today’s military
Service before Self
Professional duties over personal desires
Excellence in All We Do
Passion for continuous improvement and innovation
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

16. What is a value system? (cont’d)
Four types of values
Personal
Prudent
Conventional
Moral
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

17. What is a value system? (cont’d)
Personal: guiding our conduct
Prudent: serving our best interests
Conventional: generally accepted and enforced
Moral: rooted in a comprehensive view of human life
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

18. How are morals and ethics defined?
Set of accepted rules of conduct
Written or stated
Morals
Refers to our behavior
Often a substitute for the word ethics
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

19. How are morals and ethics defined? (cont’d)
Moral code of Western society
Based on Greek and Roman philosophy
Based on the Judeo-Christian ethic
The Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule
Rules have evolved over thousands of years.
Some rules take the form of laws.
Laws against murder and arson
Others are moral standards.
Laws against breaking promises or gossiping
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

20. What are cultural rules?
Every culture has morals, values, and a concept of basic human rights.
Customs, habits, and institutions vary from one culture to another.
What is right in one culture may be considered wrong in another.
Groups, such as family, school, and JROTC, also set moral codes.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

21. How are ethical decisions made?
Systematic process for making tough decisions
Consider all the facts.
Determine the moral values or obligations at stake.
Act or make decisions in light of your knowledge of the values and facts.
Be respectful of the life and well-being of all people.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

22. How are ethical decisions made? (cont’d)
Universal norms—the normal beliefs of people in most cultures
All cultures do not look at the same actions in the same way.
Without rules or norms, institutions would crumble.
Non-universal norms—norms that do not carry universal moral obligations
These include duties specific to one’s religion.
One should not impose personal obligations on others.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

23. How are ethical decisions made? (cont’d)
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN adopted in 1948)
Every citizen of every nation has the right to
Life, liberty, and freedom from personal attack
Freedom from slavery
Recognition before the law
Presumption of innocence until proven guilty
Freedom from torture
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

24. How are ethical decisions made? (cont’d)
Freedom of conscience and religion
Freedom of expression
Privacy, family, and correspondence
Freedom to participate freely in community life
Education
A standard of living adequate for health and well-being
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

25. How are ethical decisions made? (cont’d)
Values are also used to make decisions.
Values can be at odds with each other.
Spend tax dollars for defense or social programs?
Decisions should be based on doing the most good.
Greatest value for military is the public good.
Personal values may conflict.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

26. How are ethical decisions made? (cont’d)
What are situational ethics?
The circumstances of a situation help form the basis for deciding what is right or wrong.
What is appropriate in this situation?
What is fitting in this case?
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

27. How are ethical decisions made? (cont’d)
Example: If we were shot down behind enemy lines, we might have to lie or steal to survive.
We might be forced to choose a course of action that would violate our code of ethics and our sense of values.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

28. What are the traits of an ethical person?
A person with a refined sense of ethics has
Consideration for other people’s feelings and needs
Integrity
Honor
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

29. What are the ethical traits of leaders?
Leaders influence others to achieve goals.
Leadership decisions are based on many factors.
Each profession has a set of standards (moral or otherwise).
A leader’s actions must help accomplish the goals of the organization.
Right actions, or right choices, build confidence and self-respect and earn the respect of those affected by the actions.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

30. What are the ethical traits of leaders? (cont’d)
Twelve questions to help you make right choices
If I do what I’m thinking of doing, would I be willing to have my action enacted into law and required of everyone?
If I am considering using someone else for my own personal gain, would I allow myself to be used in the same way?
Would I be willing to explain to a jury why I chose this action?
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

31. What are the ethical traits of leaders? (cont’d)
Would I do this if I knew it would be on the television news tonight?
What would I think of this action if it were done by my worst enemy?
If my reason for acting this way is that everyone else does it, would I do it if no one else did it?
Would I do this if I knew I would have to explain my reasons to my family?
Would I be content with this action if it were taken by my boss or a member of my family?
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

32. What are the ethical traits of leaders? (cont’d)
Would I be content to have each of my followers behave exactly as I intend to in this situation?
My team could win the game by violating a rule. Before I call this play, would I be upset if the other team took the same action?
If what I do hurts no one very much, would I be willing to let everyone do the same thing?
If there is very little harm in what I want to do, what kind of person will I become if it gets to be a habit?
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

33. What are moral courage and maturity?
Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence defined moral courage this way:
To know right from wrong
To possess a firm set of values
To possess the strength to live by those values and do what is right regardless of the consequences
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

34. What are moral courage and maturity? (cont’d)
Cadets already possess
A conscience
A sense of justice
A personal code of conduct
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

35. What are moral courage and maturity? (cont’d)
Conscience—the awareness of a desire to act properly and the awareness of guilt when improper actions are committed or intended
Is not automatic
Is the product of knowledge and intelligence
Is strengthened as knowledge increases and we become more sensitive to human values
Strengthens our moral courage
Allows us to be confident without being rigid and overbearing
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

36. What is a personal code of conduct?
A personal code of conduct is a list of reminders that causes us to practice right behavior.
State rules positively.
Use “I will” statements.
Living by a code of good conduct has its rewards.
Developing good habits
Fewer occasions to have to apologize
Greater self-esteem
The respect of others
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

37. Lesson review Personal standards are decisions based on ethics.
Ethics consists of the rules of conduct that people should follow.
A value system consists of our set of ideals, beliefs, interests, likes, and dislikes that we use every day to make decisions.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

38. Lesson review (cont’d)
The core values of the U.S Air Force are Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.
The word morals is another word for ethics.
There is a systematic process to help you make ethical decisions.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

39. Lesson review (cont’d)
Universal norms are the normal beliefs of people in most cultures.
In 1948, the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Traits of an ethical person are integrity, honor, and consideration for other people's feelings and needs.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

40. Lesson review (cont’d)
Leaders are admired for their ability to motivate others to achieve goals.
Moral courage is knowing right from wrong; having a firm set of values; and having the strength to live by those values and do what is right regardless of the consequences.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

41. Lesson review (cont’d)
The key to developing moral courage and maturity is the ability to set goals and achieve them.
A personal code of conduct is a list of reminders that causes us to practice right behavior.
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

42. Summary What are personal standards? What is a value system?
What are the core values of the U.S. Air Force?
How are morals and ethics defined?
What are cultural rules?
How are ethical decisions made?
What are the traits of an ethical person?
What are the ethical traits of leaders?
What are moral courage and maturity?
What is a personal code of conduct?
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics

43. Next Done— Ethics Next— Common courtesies and etiquette
Introduction to Air Force Junior ROTC
Lesson 5, Chapter 1, Ethics