INFORMATION PAPER
ATSJ-BTB
23 JULY 2013

SUBJECT: Summary of the Army White Paper: A Profession of Arms

1. Purpose: To summarize the Army White Paper: A Profession of Arms and capture the thesis, main points, and objective of the writer.

2. Facts:

a. The author notes the purpose of his writing in the beginning prologue, “This White Paper serves to facilitate an Army-wide dialog about our Profession of Arms. It is neither definitive nor authoritative, but a starting point with which to begin discussion.” He alludes to future refinement of the paper once TRADOC receives feedback from the Army community.

b. Organized into five sections, A Profession of Arms begins by defining “Profession” and its implications to the Army. The paper then delves into the Army’s “Professional Culture,” before discussing the effects of “Army Ethics” in developing that culture. Lastly, it analyzes the role of U.S. society in the development of Army ethics and culture. The paper concludes with possible future changes in the meaning “Profession of Arms” after a decade of war and a request to begin a community dialogue on this topic.

c. To start the discussion, the author defines Profession when he states, “Professions produce uniquely expert work, not routine or repetitive work.” He continues by describing truly expert work as taking years of study and practice. The writer transitions into how the Army is an “American Profession of Arms, a vocation comprised of experts certified in the ethical application of land combat power.” He continues by sub-categorizing the Army professional’s expertise into four categories: Military-Technical, Human Development, Moral-Ethical, and Political-Cultural. The author proclaims expertise in these four elements makes an individual Soldier a professional in the “Profession of Arms.”

d. Section two of A