It is an uncommon profession that calls for people of uncommon dedication. A Service member's first obligation is to fulfill his or her assigned military mission. Missions, however, are not assigned to individuals but to units, and the success of missions depends in large measure on the degree of trust and understanding that exists among people in units. In order to execute their responsibilities, the men and women of the Military Services must function as a team, unified by special bonds of trust, mutual respect, loyalty, and sacrifice. Shared values and shared risks, positive identification with the military institution, and subordination of self characterize the military culture and distinguish it from other large institutions.
Commanders are responsible for creating and sustaining effective units.
To do so, they must eliminate discrimination and harassment because these offenses undercut the special qualities that are essential to unit effectiveness. Individual Opportunity and Fairness Individual members of the Military Services must have the opportunity to excel in an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The Department of Defense . Command Commitment and Accountability Commanders' demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to equal opportunity must be visible and unequivocal. Further, commanders are expected to communicate standards of professional conduct and build an organizational culture where members are valued, respected, and treated fairly.