Army Values, Ethics, Customs, and Courtesies
The values
LDRSHIP: Loyalty (bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other Soldiers), Duty (fulfill your obligations), Respect (treat people as they should be treated), Selfless Service (put the welfare of the nation, the Army, and subordinates before your own), Honor (live up to the Army Values), Integrity (do what is right, legally and morally), Personal Courage (face fear, danger, or adversity - physical or moral). Items often separate moral courage from physical courage: moral courage is standing up for what is right in front of peers or superiors.
The Army Ethic
Soldiers and Army Civilians live by the Army Values, serve the Nation, and defend the Constitution. Ethical decisions are usually tested through the just war tradition: jus ad bellum (just cause, legitimate authority, right intent, last resort, proportionality of ends, reasonable chance of success) and jus in bello (military necessity, proportionality of means, distinction, humanity). Any answer that is right because it produces a good outcome at any cost is wrong.
Customs and courtesies
Customs are usages not codified in law: the officer and enlisted distinction, addressing senior NCOs by rank, and avoiding familiarity that erodes discipline. Courtesies include the salute, reporting indoors to an officer, standing for a senior, and honoring the Colors. In formation, only the Soldier in charge salutes for the unit.
Traps
Confusing Respect with Honor, and Integrity with Loyalty. Integrity governs what you do when no one is watching; Loyalty governs your allegiance when it is costly.
Rule of thumb
The coin test: if nobody would ever know, integrity still requires the right action.