DIGNITY... WHAT?

For any military leader, the question of dignity goes beyond the technical or intellectual qualities necessary for the exercise of the profession: he who exercises authority must be concerned with his outward dignity (in attitude and behavior) as well as his moral dignity. Dignity also excludes any form of brutality in command.

Permanent respect for the dignity of the human being is not only a moral obligation, but also an operational imperative. In operations, this question, which is at the heart of ethics, is intimately linked to respect for populations but also for the adversary. The imperative of dignity thus makes it possible to guide the leader in his choices and to give meaning to action, especially in complex combat situations, where the law is often limited or limited without further precision.

DIGNITY... WHY?

• It is a guide that allows other qualities (such as discernment), to keep one's bearings. in the fog of war or engagements in degraded situations.

• It reflects the refusal to humiliate subordinates, the adversary or the population. It ensures that the leader has a clear conscience in accordance with his ideal of military leadership, which is essential for the continuation of his commitment.

NO DIGNITY ... WITHOUT :

• Sense of responsibility;
• ethical benchmarks;
• conscience and moral courage;
• firmness to repress misconduct;
• brotherhood of arms
• knowledge of the opponent's culture.

DIGNITY ... IN THE TEXTS :

"I don't like to be harmed by a man. »

Antoine de St. Exupery.

"One of the most effective means of victory lies in the greatest respect for moral and human values. A leader who lacks the moral fortitude to fulfill a duty of this nature is not worthy to command a French troop. »

Excerpt from the collection for young officers "And you'll be a leader" Military schools of Saumur.

DIGNITY... "IN CONTACT."

Testimony of a unit commander - operation PAMIR - Afghanistan - 2011:

"The operation has been going on for 24 hours. At this stage of the offensive, the key points of the valley have been seized, we now have to hold the positions, to allow the Afghan National Army to build a combat post. Any suspicious movement is rigorously observed, identified and, if necessary, neutralized. Although the operational risk remains high, we have decided, via the local authorities, to offer a truce to the insurgents so that they can bury their dead according to their religious customs. Despite the harshness of the fighting, it seems important to us not to reduce the enemy to the status of an object, representing abstract evil. On this occasion, the word dignity (karama) is used by the local population and it is explained to us that it refers to honour and "virility" in Muslim culture.

It was undoubtedly essential to respect the culture of the defeated for operational reasons, in order to convince the rest of the population that we would be able to respect them in turn; but beyond thatrespect for human dignity is indeed a moral obligation that leads to the recognition of the universal value of man, including when it comes to the adversary and regardless of his culture or status...".

Testimony of a Captain Unit Commander - Operation HARPIE - Guyana - 2010:

"On that day, the deep forest operation against illegal gold panners ended with a heavy fire exchange as they approached the illegal gold panning site. The infiltration and the final fire action had exhausted bodies and left a lasting impression. The garimpeiros, traffickers, sometimes criminal but often working for survival, had finally surrendered. Strict enforcement of the regulations allowed us to confiscate all their equipment, including their lamps and machetes before releasing them. However, I chose to leave them something to survive in the forest, in acceptable conditions, so that they could return to their home village. At the time, some soldiers, whose perception was perhaps clouded by the stress of the situation, were surprised by this choice. During the debriefing of the operation, everyone understood the meaning and worthiness of this decision. »