The Army Values
Seven values, one for each letter of the word LDRSHIP. This is the framework every Soldier is measured against, and the acronym is the fastest way to keep them straight.
- L Loyalty. Bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other Soldiers.
- D Duty. Fulfill your obligations.
- R Respect. Treat people as they should be treated.
- S Selfless Service. Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own.
- H Honor. Live up to the Army Values.
- I Integrity. Do what is right, legally and morally.
- P Personal Courage. Face fear, danger, or adversity, physical or moral.
The Oath of Enlistment
You say these words at MEPS the day you sign. Notice what you swear to: the Constitution, not any person or party.
I, _____, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God. SOURCE: ARMY.MIL/VALUES/OATH
The Soldier’s Creed
Recited from memory at Basic. It frames who you are, and the four Warrior Ethos lines live inside it.
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.
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. SOURCE: ARMY.MIL/VALUES/SOLDIERS
The Warrior Ethos
The four mission-first lines at the heart of the creed. If you only memorize one thing early, memorize this.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade. SOURCE: ARMY.MIL/VALUES/WARRIOR
The three General Orders
Memorize these verbatim. Cadre can quiz you any time at Basic, and you are expected to know them by your first guard shift.
- 1 I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.
- 2 I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner.
- 3 I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the Commander of the Relief.
The NCO Creed
You do not need this on day one, but it is where you are headed. When you make Sergeant, this is the standard you sign up to. It opens:
No one is more professional than I. I am a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers. As a noncommissioned officer, I realize that I am a member of a time-honored corps, known as “The Backbone of the Army.” SOURCE: ARMY.MIL, THE NCO CREED (OPENING LINES)
The Army Song
“The Army Goes Rolling Along” closes every Army ceremony, and everyone stands at attention. The opening verse and chorus:
March along, sing our song, with the Army of the free.
Count the brave, count the true, who have fought to victory.
We’re the Army and proud of our name.
We’re the Army and proudly proclaim:
First to fight for the right, and to build the Nation’s might,
And the Army goes rolling along. SOURCE: ARMY.MIL/VALUES, THE ARMY SONG
DRILL YOURSELF
The two things you will actually be quizzed on: the seven Army Values and the three General Orders. Name each, then tap to check.
Why this matters before you sign
Basic Training will hand you these to memorize under pressure. Every one you already know is one less thing to cram at 0500 with a drill sergeant in your face. Learn the values now because you will be held to them anyway, and learn the words because reciting them clean is the first thing that marks you as someone who came ready.
SOURCES: ARMY.MIL/VALUES (ARMY VALUES, OATH OF ENLISTMENT, SOLDIER’S CREED, WARRIOR ETHOS, ARMY SONG) · TC 3-22.6, GUARD DUTY (GENERAL ORDERS) · ARMY.MIL, THE NCO CREED · CURRENT AS OF PULSE CHECK DATE