These are the core values of the Navy: being honorable in your dealings with others, having the courage to do what must be done, and a commitment to your duties and responsibilities. Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? But how many people actually live out those ideals in today’s society? It really depends on where you look. Go to bars, street corners and tough neighborhoods and you can see that these ideals are in short supply. On the other hand, visit your local church, Masonic Lodge, or military installation and you will see these ideals internalized and enacted in abundance.
The ideals of honor, courage, and commitment boil down to integrity, the quality of adhering to a high moral standard, even when difficult or life-threatening. All members of the United States Navy hold the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment in the highest regard, and have done so since the Navy’s inception in 1775. Created by the Continental Congress, the Navy Continental embraced these three guiding principles and they are as valuable today as they were more than 200 years ago.
Honor in word and deed
Honor has always implied integrity, honesty and fairness. An honorable person would never steal, lie, or do less than their best. Conducting yourself with honor in the Navy means making an honest effort, being willing to learn, treating others with respect, taking responsibility for your own actions, and behaving ethically at all times. Being honorable means being truthful and doing one’s duties not out of necessity but out of personal pride and a true sense of right and wrong.
The moral strength of courage
Courage is not simply being brave in extreme circumstances. Courage means having the personal and moral strength to do what is right, even when it is difficult. As a Navy service man or woman, courage refers to defending American citizens, soil, and property at all costs. It also refers to performing any task that is required to support the missions and objectives of the Navy. Courage also means handling military property with integrity and honesty, despite temptations to the contrary. Courage means staying the course, not giving in to fear, pain, or temptation, making sure jobs get done the way they should be.
Commitment
Commitments are obligations and loyalties. For the service men and women of the Navy, commitment refers to their willingness to obey orders, their dedication to the well-being of American citizens, and their loyalty to perform their duties to the best of their ability. The pledge also includes a promise to uphold the integrity and respectability of the Navy by showing respect to all people, regardless of religion, race, or gender. The Navy requires a commitment to self-improvement, good moral character, and technical expertise in the performance of its duties.
Living and working honorably in word and deed, courage to do what is right in the face of obstacles, and commitment to the Navy’s mission as outlined in the Navy Core Values represent the Navy’s commitment to American citizens. and American ideals: justice and freedom for all.