Military Ethics Case Study Response

Case # 43: The Case of Commitment to Service Category: Military ethics LT Alioto grew up on a remote Pacific island before his family moved to the US, where they prospered through hard work. He is apparently the only officer in the Army who speaks a language variant called Tagalog D. The lieutenant faces a difficult personal situation. His widowed mother has never learned English and now lives with him. She depends on him to assist in family financial affairs. LT Aliotos only daughter, three years old, was born with a severe physical abnormality which requires four hours of administered exercise a day, a task he shares with his wife who otherwise would have difficulty coping. Now the Army needs LT Alioto as well--for an unaccompanied assignment in the Pacific where the US is building a major new forward support base for naval forces as well as for an Army unit. LT Aliotos language skill, he is told, will be critical in working with some local ethnic groups who are resisting the long-term agreement into which the island government has entered with the US. LT Alioto is considering whether to ask that his PCS orders be revoked for compassionate reasons and what to do if he does submit such a request and it is denied. What would you advise him to do? [The point of this exercise is to try to determine just what Duty and "Selfless Service" really mean.] Author Information Name: Major J. Carl Ficarrotta, USAF E-mail: [email protected] Homepage: http://www.usafa.af.mil/dfpfa/CVs/Ficarrotta.html Institution: United States Air Force Academy; JSCOPE Web site: http://www.usafa.af.mil/jscope/Cases/casesindex.html Copyright: 2000

Angela Lands

RESPONSE Analysis: The case involves an Officer (Lt Alioto) in the US Army who possesses proficiency in a language critical to a military mission. Not only does he speak the language, but it is his native language and apparently the only officer with these skills. The Lieutenant has been called to duty on a mission that would require his language skills and knowledge of his native culture. The mission would allow the military to obtain a strategic stronghold in the Pacific, yet it is being met with resistance from the local Islanders. Unfortunately, the Lieutenant has hardships at home. He is requesting that his PCS orders be rescinded on grounds of hardship and compassion.

Issue: Lt Alioto feels that his duty at home should supersede his unaccompanied mission to the Pacific and requests that his orders be rescinded so that he may remain at home to care for his family. The hardships Lt Alioto face at home include: • •

A disabled daughter who requires at least four hours of physical care a day. He shares this duty with his wife. His widowed mother, now in his care, who does not speak English and depends on his financial assistance.

Options: 1. Allow Lt Alioto to remain in the US, performing his regular military duties, thus allowing him to care for his family. 2. Require Lt Alioto to PCS to the Pacific Island and allow accompaniment of his family. 3. Maintain the original PCS orders, with no accompaniment.

Possible Solutions for each option: 1. If PCS orders are rescinded, Lt Alioto’s permanent record shall be flagged to reflect denial of critical mission. 2. If PCS orders are amended to allow for dependant accompaniment, payment for dependant travel will not be authorized. Lt Alioto will also be required to acquire his own housing since family would not be allowed to live in US Government quarters. Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) will continue to be paid. 3. If Lt Alioto’s request is denied, he will be required to complete the mission as stated in the orders with no amendments.

Conclusion: Modern day military duty is optional and based on volunteers. When one takes the Oath to serve, one must do so knowing what could be in store for him or her in the future. Lt Alioto is fully aware that he retains a critical skill that is mission essential to the Army. When the Lieutenant’s hardships were bestowed upon him, The Army feels he could have resigned his commission, and found work in the private sector that could accommodate his hardships. Instead, Lt Alioto chose to remain in the Army, and serve his country and support missions as needed. The critical language skill that Lt Alioto possesses is needed for an important mission. Since Lt Alioto is an Officer in the US Army, he is obligated to fulfill that duty. Due to constricted funding and potential dangers in the mission area, an accompanied PCS will not be authorized. If Lt Alioto submits a request to have his orders revoked, it is decided that he shall have a flag placed in his permanent record and allow him to resign his commission and be granted an Honorable or General Discharge status dependant on previous or future disciplinary actions. Lastly, it is assumed that Lt Alioto will accept the mission as required. He will be given 30 days to arrange for care for his family while he is away. As unfortunate as Lt Alioto’s hardships may be, he has chosen the life of a military officer and must perform his duties to his country as required. Lt Alioto has every right to resign his commission at any time if he feels he cannot perform his military duties.