Integrity First: Reflections of a Military Philosopher. - Review - book review

Aerospace Power Journal, Summer, 2001 by Lt Col Eric Ash

Integrity First: Reflections of a Military Philosopher by Malham M. Wakin. Lexington Books ( 4720 Boston Way, Lanham, Maryland 20706, August 2000, 208 pages, $60.00.

The profession of arms must have moral, thinking leaders. Just as step one in campaign planning involves assessing the situation, so too must leaders examine themselves in their environment. Leaders --all soldiers, for that matter--cannot simply march blindly along, following and giving orders, without constantly engaging the brain. Despite the pressures of danger and temptation, their integrity must carry the day.

Stating these matters much more eloquently and convincingly in his book Integrity First, Brig Gen Malham Wakin trumpets vitally important philosophical arguments that military leaders must be technically competent and of sound ethical character. This book is a collection of what might be called Wakin classics--previously published articles and speeches from the past four decades, during which time Wakin established himself as perhaps the military philosopher of our time. He has attained legendary stature at the Air Force Academy, where he has profoundly influenced generations of future Air Force leaders.

For those who have heard Wakin teach and have read his publications, there is nothing new in this book--yet the ideas are still profound and important for our awareness of and approach to "core values" and "core competencies." His undertone throughout is a normative stand that people who wear the uniform ought to be moral.

Reading philosophy can make one's head hurt--but in a good way. Like a hard workout at the fitness center, the study of human nature in this book provides healthy mental gymnastics. It relates back to the old truism "a sound mind and a sound body." In such exercises of thought, the various essays can leave the reader pondering as many questions as answers. But that is appropriate. After all, people truly are an ill-defined problem.

In addition to the "integrity first" theme of the book, there is another thread of philosophical continuity around the harmony between discipline and thinking. The profession of arms needs both; according to Wakin, they are not mutually exclusive but supportive. Discipline is not some rote, by-the-numbers substitute for judgement. At the same time, it takes a disciplined mind to think under the pressure of combat and not collapse mentally or go berserk. Just as discipline is learned, so too is being able to think critically and effectively. This is fundamental to the ethics of leadership. It is learned, and that learning comes largely by example.

Wakin's book is timely reading for Air Force members engaged in the Developing Aerospace Leaders (DAL) project. It reminds us that although DAL is new, the ideas behind it are not. Indeed, as Wakin points out, Gen John D. Ryan, former chief of staff of the Air Force, emphasized integrity in leadership-in the 1960s. Wakin is right on target in observing that even though the Air Force has tended to create stovepipe specialties in the institution, all members wear the uniform and must universally exemplify moral character.