Moral Development as Character Development in the U.S. Army.

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Bibliographic Details
Title:	Moral Development as Character Development in the U.S. Army.
Authors:	Vineyard, Jared L.
Source:	Military Review. Mar/Apr2026, Vol. 106 Issue 2, p140-149. 10p.
Subjects:	Moral development, United States. Army, United States armed forces, Ethical decision making, Institutional environment, Maturation (Psychology), Military ethics
Abstract:	The article focuses on moral development as a key aspect of character development within the U.S. Army profession. It argues that while the Army doctrine emphasizes character as essential for soldiers, there is a lack of differentiated moral expectations aligned with rank and experience. Drawing on Lawrence Kohlberg’s six-stage cognitive moral development model, the article proposes a framework linking moral development stages to Army ranks, suggesting that junior enlisted soldiers typically operate at earlier moral stages, while senior noncommissioned officers and officers should demonstrate advanced moral reasoning. To intentionally develop character, the article recommends a fourfold moral development model—moral input (study and accountability), moral processing (self-reflection and ethical decision-making), moral output (discipline and mutual accountability), and moral climate (organizational environment)—to guide both individual and unit-level moral growth within the Army profession. [Extracted from the article]
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Database:	Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection

Description
Abstract:	The article focuses on moral development as a key aspect of character development within the U.S. Army profession. It argues that while the Army doctrine emphasizes character as essential for soldiers, there is a lack of differentiated moral expectations aligned with rank and experience. Drawing on Lawrence Kohlberg’s six-stage cognitive moral development model, the article proposes a framework linking moral development stages to Army ranks, suggesting that junior enlisted soldiers typically operate at earlier moral stages, while senior noncommissioned officers and officers should demonstrate advanced moral reasoning. To intentionally develop character, the article recommends a fourfold moral development model—moral input (study and accountability), moral processing (self-reflection and ethical decision-making), moral output (discipline and mutual accountability), and moral climate (organizational environment)—to guide both individual and unit-level moral growth within the Army profession. [Extracted from the article]
ISSN:	00264148