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The United States Navy
Throughout its history, the Navy has successfully met
all its challenges. America's naval service began during the American
Revolution, when on Oct. 13, 1775, the Continental Congress authorized a few
small ships. Creating the Continental Navy. Esek Hopkins was appointed commander
in chief and 22 officers were commissioned, including John Paul Jones.
From those early days of naval service, certain bedrock principles or core
values have carried on to today. They consist of three basic principles.
Honor: "I will bear true faith
and allegiance ..." Accordingly, we will: Conduct ourselves in the highest
ethical manner in all relationships with peers, superiors and subordinates; Be
honest and truthful in our dealings with each other, and with those outside the
Navy; Be willing to make honest recommendations and accept those of junior
personnel; Encourage new ideas and deliver the bad news, even when it is
unpopular; Abide by an uncompromising code of integrity, taking responsibility
for our actions and keeping our word; Fulfill or exceed our legal and ethical
responsibilities in our public and personal lives twenty-four hours a day.
Illegal or improper behavior or even the appearance of such behavior will not be
tolerated. We are accountable for our professional and personal behavior. We
will be mindful of the privilege to serve our fellow Americans.
Courage: "I will support and
defend ..." Accordingly, we will have: courage to meet the demands of our
profession and the mission when it is hazardous, demanding, or otherwise
difficult; Make decisions in the best interest of the navy and the nation,
without regard to personal consequences; Meet these challenges while adhering to
a higher standard of personal conduct and decency; Be loyal to our nation,
ensuring the resources entrusted to us are used in an honest, careful, and
efficient way. Courage is the value that gives us the moral and mental strength
to do what is right, even in the face of personal or professional adversity.
Commitment: "I will obey the
orders ..." Accordingly, we will: Demand respect up and down the chain of
command; Care for the safety, professional, personal and spiritual well-being of
our people; Show respect toward all people without regard to race, religion, or
gender; Treat each individual with human dignity; Be committed to positive
change and constant improvement; Exhibit the highest degree of moral character,
technical excellence, quality and competence in what we have been trained to do.
The day-to-day duty of every Navy man and woman is to work together as a team to
improve the quality of our work, our people and ourselves.
These are the CORE VALUES of the
United States Navy.
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