FAS

The Soldier’s Guide, and Other Army Guidance

10.05.11 | 2 min read | Text by Steven Aftergood

“The Soldier’s Guide,” which is something like the U.S. Army equivalent of the Boy Scout Handbook, was updated last month.  The 436 page Guide is filled with instruction and lore about life in the U.S. Army.  It covers Army history, traditions, and professional development.

In places the text limps.  Thus, “The Army’s core values are loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage. They form the acronym LDRSHIP.”  In other places, it is moving and profound.  The Guide explains that when you are in the Army, your first duty is not to the Army, but to the U.S. Constitution.  “Put [your] obligations in correct order: the Constitution, the Army, the unit, and finally, self.”  See “The Soldier’s Guide,” Field Manual, 7-21.13, February 2004, with Change 1, September 20, 2011.

“Law and Order Operations” is the topic of another recently updated Army manual.  In the past, this term referred primarily to law enforcement activities at military facilities.  But its scope has now expanded.  “The applications of L&O [law and order] operations and the requirements for Army LE [law enforcement] personnel to conduct these operations have grown tremendously as nation building and protracted stability operations have demonstrated the need for civil security and civil control as critical lines of effort within the larger effort to transfer authority to a secure and stable HN [host nation] government.” See “Law and Order Operations,” ATTP 3-39.10, June 20, 2011.

This week the Army published an updated regulation on “Military Justice.”  The 176-page regulation presents rules and procedures for administering justice in the military.  It addresses a variety of particular offenses, including “subversion, treason, domestic terrorism, and known or suspected unauthorized disclosure of classified information or material.”  See “Military Justice,” Army Regulation 27-10, October 3, 2011.

publications
See all publications
Emerging Technology
Blog
Team Science needs Teamwork: Universities should get in on the ground floor in shaping the vision for new NSF Tech Labs

At a time when universities are already facing intense pressure to re-envision their role in the S&T ecosystem, we encourage NSF to ensure that the ambitious research acceleration remains compatible with their expertise.

12.12.25 | 4 min read
read more
Emerging Technology
Blog
NSF Plans to Supercharge FRO-style Independent Labs. We Spoke with the Scientists Who First Proposed the Idea.

FAS CEO Daniel Correa recently spoke with Adam Marblestone and Sam Rodriques, former FAS fellows who developed the idea for FROs and advocated for their use in a 2020 policy memo.

12.12.25 | 10 min read
read more
Government Capacity
Blog
Demystifying the New President’s Management Agenda

In a year when management issues like human capital, IT modernization, and improper payments have received greater attention from the public, examining this PMA tells us a lot about where the Administration’s policy is going to be focused through its last three years.

12.11.25 | 20 min read
read more
Government Capacity
day one project
Policy Memo
A Digital Public Infrastructure Act Should Be America’s Next Public Works Project

Congress must enact a Digital Public Infrastructure Act, a recognition that the government’s most fundamental responsibility in the digital era is to provide a solid, trustworthy foundation upon which people, businesses, and communities can build.

12.08.25 | 18 min read
read more