Preface

The Profession of Arms plays a crucial role in Canada, entrusted with responsibilities on behalf of the people and the government to defend Canada and Canadian interests. This trust is cultivated by the profession of arms’ ability to fulfill its duties in both providing strategic options to government and in achieving government-assigned objectives, all in a manner that aligns with Canadian values. It’s a tall order. Fighting Spirit: The Profession of Arms in Canada emphasizes that trust is built through a commitment to developing both strength of character and professional competence, together. Character holds equal importance to competence within our profession because who we are and the way in which we fulfill our role, missions and tasks is just as critical as their achievement.

Commitment is aptly expressed as fighting spirit. Having a fighting spirit entails willingly taking on challenging and sometimes dangerous tasks, maintaining the will to succeed and demonstrating grit in the face of adversity, for it is fighting spirit as the chief moral component of fighting power that carries the burden of unlimited liability in conflict. Fighting spirit likewise guarantees the persistent development of character and competence that drives and sustains military effectiveness. The pursuit of character and competence to the standards set out by our military ethos requires a profound commitment from our people in uniform. It signifies the passion and perseverance required to excel in a highly competitive or hostile environment, and yet it can be equally tempered to ensure success in everyday tasks.

Fighting spirit sustains us in a career-long commitment to pursue excellence towards mastery within the profession of arms. Formal training and education help acquire new competencies and credentials, and true mastery arises from the practical experience gained through employment. Experiential learning takes place within the commands, formations and units, as well as on joint, combined and interagency postings. Mastery of the profession is never complete. Leaders at all levels must advance informal learning and the development of their subordinates in the workplace to accelerate the path to professional mastery. Military professionals must view themselves as lifelong learners, continually studying the prevention and prosecution of armed conflict within the broader context of national and international security.

Fighting spirit underscores our enduring commitment to a positive evolution in military culture and professionalism so that military professionals better reflect the Canadian Armed Forces ethos and new frameworks for universal virtues and leader character. The responsibility to safeguard our profession applies not only to external threats but also to internal deficiencies in character, competence and commitment in both individuals and groups. Military professionals must fully grasp the significance of embodying the military ethos as it sustains the concept of professionalism itself. We must renew our commitment to help support one another's professional growth in these areas.

This publication deepens our collective understanding of our profession and serves as a testament to a fighting spirit; the need for all military professionals to embody dedication and accountability in upholding the professional principles, values and expectations that make a highly effective and credible Profession of Arms.

W.D. Eyre
General
Chief of the Defence Staff

G.R.C. McCann
Chief Warrant Officer
Canadian Armed Forces Chief Warrant Officer

 

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