by Christian A. Dionisio
For the vast majority of Americans, the relentless pursuit of perfection is completely unreasonable, even irrational. In the profession of arms, however, the relentless pursuit of perfection is illuminated in our oath, essential to our effectiveness, and expected of us by the American public. Although perfection is an unattainable goal, the American people and our Soldiers deserve an officer corps that will perpetually pursue greatness. No exceptions. No excuses.
Naturally, I was fearful when in high school I received an appointment to West Point. I dreaded what it meant to abandon the “normal college experience.” I worried what would happen if I sank under the expectations and demands.
Still, I was compelled by a sense of duty – a call to support the institutions, protect the values, and defend the people of our extraordinary nation.
On May 25, 2024, my classmates and I graduated from the U.S. Military Academy and commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, joining the generations who came before us in the profession of arms. After four years of character education, academic rigor, and repeated failure, we are now prepared to lead – and to win.
However, our profession’s pursuit of perfection is threatened by current challenges – among them misinformation and disinformation, increased political polarization, reduced public trust, and a recruiting crisis.
The profession of arms demands that its leaders “protect and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” and “bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” By joining this profession, officers and enlisted soldiers bind themselves to a set of enduring principles that constitute the Army Ethic and the Warrior Ethos. We subordinate our personal needs to those of the nation. We volunteer willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the founding values of the United States and the American way of life. Most of all, we assume a moral imperative to live by the virtues we swear to uphold, no matter the cost.
The language of the oath of commissioned officers highlights three essential aspects of the officer’s role and responsibilities in the profession of arms:
First, the oath clarifies that accepting a commission and entering the profession is voluntary. By acknowledging that we “take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion,” we cannot blame others for the expectations placed upon us by the office we have accepted. Military personnel sacrifice liberties to serve their country. Officers abide by more rigorous standards of conduct set forth by Article 133 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (“Conduct Unbecoming of an Officer”), the violation of which would jeopardize the officer’s ability to lead. Fulfilling this obligation comes at the price of some individual freedoms afforded to civilians and enlisted soldiers, and the oath is careful to ensure no one accepts a commission against their will.
Second, officers are obligated to the Constitution, a set of ideas that guide our country and leaders. The oath of commissioned officers calls upon individuals to swear to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic” and “bear true faith and allegiance to the same.” The oath does not expect officers to promise their allegiance or obedience to the President of the United States, Congress, any individual, or even the nation itself. This condition of the oath also requires us to think critically about their leadership and execution of our office. To support and defend the Constitution requires more than a cursory awareness of what it says. It requires a genuine understanding and appreciation of what it means – its origins, its principles, and why it has survived as a governing document for almost 250 years.
Third, the language of the oath references powers beyond the scope of the individual. The fact that officers can choose to swear “solemnly” and include “So help me God” as they recite the oath assures additional seriousness to what they affirm. The vow we make is not just to ourselves, or even to the Constitution, but to an even higher calling. Our ability to live up to the oath requires fidelity, commitment, sacrifice, and faith as we perform our duties.
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By taking the oath, we subject ourselves to the expectations and customs of the Army profession, including the need to live by the Army Ethic: “the set of enduring moral principles, values, beliefs, and laws that guide the Army profession and create a culture of trust essential to Army professionals in the conduct of missions, performance of duty, and all aspects of life.” As a fundamental component of the Army Ethic, “the oath to support and defend the Constitution unites all Army professionals.” With our oath, we promise to demonstrate integrity, serve honorably, and steward the profession. We vow to develop geopolitical, legal, moral, and human expertise to lead soldiers and defend constitutional virtues. The oath and Army Ethic reinforce commitments to a life of service and remind us of the professional identity we are charged to uphold.
Overall, the oath of commissioned officers is the bedrock upon which the U.S. Army officer corps built all its successes – decade after decade, conflict after conflict. Without a solemn vow to support and defend the Constitution by performing duties and upholding the expectations of an office, the Army would reduce the acceptance of a commission to the level of a simple job offer. Instead, the oath, Army Ethic, and deeply ingrained military customs combine to ensure that service in the Army rises to the level of a profession.
The Army is the world’s premier ground-based fighting force because it creates cohesive teams and empowers soldiers to lead in times of crisis. We must not attempt to make service more ‘palatable’ to young Americans. We should not enact changes that lessen officers’ moral-ethical burden. We jeopardize the effectiveness of American defense by tolerating anything less than the pursuit of perfection from all servicemembers, especially officers. As the U.S. military navigates today’s challenges, we must recommit to the principles of our profession to faithfully discharge the duties of our office and live up to the oath we’ve sworn. There is no other option.
My peers and I will continue this perpetual pursuit of perfection that the country demands of us. Even if irrational, unreasonable, or unattainable, the moral imperatives illuminated by the oath, Army Ethic, and profession inspire the U.S. Army and its sister services to become what the nation needs them to be: indomitable.
Christian A. Dionisio is a cadet from Verona, New Jersey, in his final year at the United States Military Academy. After graduation, he will attend Infantry Basic Officer Leaders Course (IBOLC) and Ranger School before reporting to Ft. Campbell, KY as a second lieutenant and Infantry Officer in 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. You can contact him by email at christian.a.dionisio@outlook.com or on LinkedIn.
