Loyalty is the Army Value most likely to lead to other ethical failures. It rationalizes unethical decision-making based on localized emotional attachments. Three examples indicate ongoing confusion about prioritization of Army Values based on emotional attachment. The Tailhook Scandal involved sister-service commissioned officers, but their lack of cooperation was endorsed in a professional discussion among Army officers. Two colonels attending the Army War College had severe integrity lapses, with one justifying his actions with personal loyalty. An immature and inexperienced Soldier identified wrongful unit acts and was pressured with loyalty to junior leaders. Loyalty can corrupt otherwise ethical people, and facilitates poor decision-making in already value-challenged leaders.

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