Military Review English Edition July-August 2014 | Page 43

Spc. Cory Grogan - Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office

SUSTAINING THE ARNG

A soldier from the Royal Army of Oman’s 11th Brigade, Western
Frontier Regiment, learns about a .50-caliber machine gun from
U.S. soldiers at the Rubkut Training Range in Oman, 21 January 2012, during the first day of a two-week training exercise
sponsored by U.S. Army Central. The Oregon National Guard’s 1st
Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment and a platoon from the 125th
Forward Support Company, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery
Regiment joined Omani soldiers to share knowledge and build
diplomatic relations.

trust and confidence in the Guard. Therefore, the
ARNG must make great efforts to hone professionalism within its ranks every day and at all levels of
leadership.
A Gallup poll reports that as of 2013, Americans
surveyed continue to have more confidence in the military than in other U.S. institutions.17 However, time
and again, serious breaches in conduct have damaged
the total force’s professional identity. Sexual assaults
have dramatically increased.18 In 2013 there were 5,061
MILITARY REVIEW  July-August 2014

reported sexual assaults in the Army.19 This is especially
troubling given that sexual assault is the most underreported crime in the Nation; many believe it is much
more so in the Army.
Even general officers have been found guilty of extramarital affairs, sexual misconduct, and the misuse of
funds. If the standard-bearers of our professional values
are failing, how can we expect our soldiers to want to
remain in the service?
Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman’s landmark
book, First Break All the Rules, examines why people stay with organizations. Their main answer, after
interviewing thousands, is that peo