Scenario: To Obey or Not to Obey

Group Size: 4-15

Scenario

You are a member of a unit deployed on a mission to a country that has collapsed into a full-scale civil war. Your superior has been ordered to higher headquarters (HQ) to receive orders. Before leaving, she orders you to remain in the HQ and ensure that no Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) troops leave the camp for any reason without her expressed permission. She voices her concern to you about Canadian expatriates (missionaries, aid workers, students, etc.) who may be at risk in the renewed fighting, but she issues no specific direction about them and restates that no CAF personnel are to leave their defensive positions without her permission.

Communications with your superior are erratic and are soon non-existent. A couple of hours later, a colleague comes into the command post and tells you that he has received a message from Canadian nuns operating an orphanage in the region. He explains that the orphanage had taken fire and that some of the nuns and orphans have been killed and wounded. Just before the phone line from the orphanage went dead, the nuns explained that the orphanage was in danger of a direct attack and begged to be rescued.

He informs you that he is organizing a rescue mission. You remind him of the orders, but he emphasizes that he will not stand back while Canadians and children are in danger. He refuses to listen and leaves. You cannot reach your superior or anyone else outside your camp.

Categories

• Principles: Respect the Dignity of all Persons, Obey and Support Lawful Authority
• Values: Integrity, Loyalty, Courage
• Cultural themes: Service, Identity, Leadership
• Misconduct types: Not Specific
• GBA Plus themes: Not Specific
• Audience: Canadian Armed Forces

Facilitator’s Guide

Learning Objectives

• Discuss the ethical obligations of “Respect the Dignity of all Persons” and “Obeying and Supporting Lawful Authority” in an operational setting.
• Discuss the ethical values of courage versus responsibility/duty versus integrity, courage, and loyalty in an operational setting.

Facilitation Questions

1. What would you do in this situation? What are the considerations?
   • Allow open discussion from the group.
   • Ethical concerns: Although your superior’s last orders were clear about not departing the camp, he did show concern about the expatriates. Is there an implied intent? Even without that intent, should you act to save Canadian nuns and the children in their care?
   • Personal factors: The values you embrace are at stake because you want to help the nuns, yet you are bound to obey and support lawful authority.
   • Environmental factors: Canadian troops are likely to be under direct attack if they depart the camp. If you support the rescue mission, you must be aware that casualties may be taken. Are you legally bound to aid Canadians during incidents of peril?
2. What is the ethical dilemma in this situation?
   • This ethical dilemma presents conflicting obligations.
   • The obligation to follow your superior’s orders and the obligation to protect those in need. Events have changed and those who you represent, the Canadians nuns, are in peril. Would a decision to take action be viewed as disobedience or as a reinterpretation of the superior’s intent?
3. What are some potential courses of action that could be taken in this scenario?
   • Find your colleague and order him to stop the mission or place him under arrest for disobeying a lawful command from a superior. This could calm him down, allowing time to contact your superior to get direction on how to handle the situation.
   • Gather your other colleagues and enlist their aid in helping you to convince their counterpart not to act impulsively. There is a possibility that they will endorse his decision to take action. Either way, they may provide you with some insight that you had not considered.
   • Ignore the situation and continue to try and contact your superior. Your colleague has taken a decision for which he must be prepared to take full responsibility. However, by ignoring the situation, you have allowed him to disobey a lawful command. You have not fulfilled the intent of your superior and Canadian troops may be killed during the rescue mission.
   • Support your colleague. As such, you will take responsibility for your actions and face the accountability.