How much does integrity matter to you? Is this the most important quality for our military members?

SGM Steve Wettstein — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 04:58:03 -0400

http://www.stripes.com/news/us/reports-brian-williams-to-stay-at-nbc-won-t-return-to-nightly-news-1.352923

The story is about Brian Williams, but it ties into integrity. I know, for me, integrity was just about number one on the list what not to lose. Once you lose your integrity to someone it is almost if not impossible to get it back.

Lester Holt permanently replacing Brian Williams at 'Nightly News'

Brian Williams will remain at NBC but will not return to the “Nightly News” anchor chair, network officials announced Thursday. Instead, he will be a breaking news anchor at the cable network MSNBC.

Response by LTC Gavin Heater made Jun 18 at 2015 5:11 AM

LTC Gavin Heater — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 05:11:42 -0400

Your "word" or your integrity is the core of who you are. Without that quality in good standing, everything else pales in comparison. For news media types, this is even more key, conveying believability.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 18 at 2015 11:02 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 11:02:14 -0400

SGM Steve Wettstein I consider it to be very important! I believe there are a number of important qualities that work simultaneously with Integrity (loyalty, honor, etc.). Its the combination of these qualities that will define your leadership and how you are perceived by those who will follow you into any type of situation and it provides a glide path for those over you that you will follow in the tough situations - especially when no one is looking!

Response by CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 12:15 PM

CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 12:15:04 -0400

It is all that matters to me in terms of virtues. Without it, why do we don the uniform and what it represents?

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 18 at 2015 1:16 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 13:16:32 -0400

I was in a large NG TSC with 60 Active Duty soldiers. I lost a lot of respect for some of the officers for going on TDY for a day or two, and claiming extra baggage, bell hop, internet fees. Once you see a crack in someone's persona, it is impossible to fully trust them. As someone alluded to earlier, trust is paramount in the military.

Response by CMSgt Mark Schubert made Jun 18 at 2015 2:00 PM

CMSgt Mark Schubert — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:00:33 -0400

You can't be a good leader without it - so it's very important.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 2:15 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 14:15:57 -0400

Integrity is everything, the way I was brought up was that your word and action spoke volumes of a persons character. If someone is dishonest with me then that just burns a bridge of no return in my book. Integrity is the cornerstone of all Army values in the humble opinion.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 7:53 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 19:53:33 -0400

Integrity is a (or maybe the) core value. Of all of the performance reports I have had both military and civilian the comment made that I am most proud of is that I more integrity than anyone the rater had ever seen.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 8:05 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 20:05:17 -0400

It's the only thing that matters, because it is the one quality from which all other good things are derived.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 18 at 2015 10:20 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Jun 2015 22:20:19 -0400

I was told once by a ranking officer also a friend. "Your integrity can never be questioned. You must walk in a crystal ball." It was an excellent piece of advice.

Response by CCMSgt Bill R. made Jun 25 at 2015 4:11 PM

CCMSgt Bill R. — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 16:11:03 -0400

I can't think of anything more important, you can use a lot of "words" but if you don't have INTEGRITY you will not be a "leader" long. The people you work for/with will discount you in"a New York" minute.

Response by CCMSgt Bill R. made Jun 25 at 2015 4:13 PM

CCMSgt Bill R. — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 16:13:05 -0400

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 25 at 2015 4:22 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Thu, 25 Jun 2015 16:22:03 -0400

It's one of the few things you can hold onto an own. Just down the list from God and family. Think of it as the primary lens you look through. Trust, respect, honor, etc. all follow.

I had some pretty dark days both in and out of uniform. It helps keep your sanity when people turn on you. Integrity is also a lagging indicator. People tend to figure out you're a person of integrity sometime down the road.

Response by SFC Russell Shaw made Feb 12 at 2016 6:10 PM

SFC Russell Shaw — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 18:10:31 -0500

It matters tremendously so much is hinged to it. The benefit of integrity is that people trust us. Then the benefit of trust, is influence because when we earn people trust we earn their confidence which is one of the keys to influence. Their are 10 specific area of influence I have studied but the foundation for them all is integrity.

Response by SP5 Tony Lobello made Feb 12 at 2016 9:59 PM

SP5 Tony Lobello — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 21:59:17 -0500

SGM, you are right on target. Integrity is what motivates us to do the right thing when no one is watching. Integrity is what makes the other qualities work.
I salute you!