Why do Soldiers not understand that the Army Values apply 100% of the time?

As LT Brantley mentioned, if we expect our Soldiers to live our values all the time then we must take a hard look at ourselves and ensure we are indeed doing so.  We need also realize that after basic training, the transition to professional Soldier continues and we must continue to mold and develop our young Soldiers as we serve with them.  If we maintain and enforce the standards then we will develop future leaders who will do the same.  It's easy to complain about Soldiers not doing what know they should, or not meeting the standards, or not wearing the uniform properly, or .... When we find ourselves complaining we should stop, evaluate what we are doing to fix the problem, and then take action within our realm of responsibility.  My 1SG used to remind me of this when he'd tell me to "worry about our bubble, sir! Let's make things as good as we can in our bubble."  As to the question of leaders being OK with lapses, I wonder if you're talking about allowing second chances or not providing any discipline for that lapse?  If it's the first, I'm okay with second chances and helping a Soldier learn from it and develop into that future leader we want.  If it's the absence of discipline then see the first part of this rambling response.

Along these same lines, is there a such thing as a "universal" code of ethics? Please understand. I don't mean universal as in all people at all times but I do mean all people in a specific organization (e.g. company or squadron) or all people in a certain category (e.g. Airmen/Sailors/Soldiers/Marines/etc). Can we expect anything that we try to do in the diverse organizations of which we are a part to hold anything as universally true?

Integrity and respect for our President from military members is off the charts. Take your hatred to the voting booth. For service members to be so disrespectful, all political persuasions included, his sending wrong messages to young men and women in uniform. Lead by example. Hate is not a good example. We are ALL AMERICANS! We need to all start acting like it. "Divided we Fall". Absolutely

Values are important. Mistakes will be made (by everyone), however there is a difference between a mistake and an "on purpose". Unfortunately some folks were not brought up with proper values. It is up to us as leaders to teach our soldiers our common values. It worked for me!