You've Got to Be Kidding!: How to Keep Your Job Without Losing Your Integrity

The Military Gets It Right

All branches of the military have a great response to an inappropriate question: “You do not have a need to know.” End of report, and no lying!

When it comes to lying is this culture, there is no wiggle room whatsoever. My friend, retired Air Force Brigadier General Dennis Schulstad, shared some comments about the consequences of not telling the truth in the military:

They have an honor code at the Air Force Academy that reads, “We will not lie, steal, or cheat, nor tolerate among us anyone who does.” This code is enforced by the cadets, and anyone caught breaking it faces removal from the Academy. The honor code serves as a basis for each cadet’s personal code of ethical behavior.

Case in point: Some years ago, an exceptional young lieutenant was selected to be the first female pilot of an Air Force bomber that could carry nuclear weapons (today, there are many women flying all types of Air Force planes in combat). This lieutenant received significant national media attention for this groundbreaking assignment. However, just after the announcement, she was caught in an adulterous affair with the civilian husband of an enlisted woman. The officer’s commander immediately ordered her to end the relationship.

The lieutenant lied to her superior officer saying it was over; but, instead, she continued the affair. Disobeying the order of her commander and continuing the adulterous affair, while wrong and potentially damaging to her career, probably would have ...