Put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and your subordinates before your own. Do what's right, legally and morally. It helps us know what is right, and gives us the courage to do what is right regardless of the circumstances. It serves as the basis of knowing and doing. It is a level of knowledge a leader must have and a mastery of skills essential to succeed in peace or war.
Army values form the foundation of character.
They are not new, they have evolved over time. Here you can see where they came from. Soldiers enter the Army with their own values, developed over time by what they have seen, learned, and experienced. Army values form the identity of America's Army as an organization, and are the glue that binds us as individuals together into a profession. These values tell us what we need to be in every action we take.