The Profession of Arms: What Scholars, Practitioners, and Others of Note Have Had to Say

Authors

• Gregory D. Foster, Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University

Abstract

This article brings together foundational and contemporary perspectives on the profession of arms to consider what defines military professionalism and whether that concept remains sufficient for today’s security environment. Beginning with the officer’s commission, oath of office, and joint doctrine, the author emphasizes that military service rests on constitutional loyalty, character, competence, expertise, responsibility, ethical conduct, and public trust. The article then presents influential views from figures such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Alexis de Tocqueville, Samuel Huntington, Morris Janowitz, Sir John Winthrop Hackett, Charles Moskos, Douglas MacArthur, and Martin Dempsey, highlighting recurring themes of civilian control, selfless service, professional expertise, the management of violence, and accountability to society. It also considers more recent arguments that the traditional concept of the profession of arms may be too narrow in an era shaped by cyber operations, nonkinetic instruments of power, complex national security challenges, and growing reliance on capabilities outside the military. The article concludes by raising the possibility that the profession of arms should be understood within a broader framework of national security professions while preserving its core commitments to constitutional authority, professional competence, ethical service, and public trust.