Military Ethical Issues

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Pages: 6

Alcohol misuse is a problem in the Albanian Military (AM). Frequent restricted policies issued by the Albanian Ministry of Defense (AMOD) have mitigated the alcohol use but it is still a problem. The AMOD regulations prohibit the alcohol use in military installations and facilities. The military and social related stress plays a major explanatory role in elevating of risk for military individuals to misuse alcohol. The alcohol abuse is a bug ethical issue in the Albanian society and it is no exception in the AM. It is a paradigm of Albanian society and considered as a self-treatment of stress problems by individuals. These ethical issues need the involvement of AM leaderships for seeking the roots of the problem, particularly for military-related …show more content…
According to the Albanian Ministry of Health (AMH), (2011), alcohol consumption in Albania is 7 liters per person a year. Additionally, according to a world study of SOCRATA (2009), Albania rated in the 112th place for alcohol consumption. The Albanian Health Institute (AHI) (2016) stresses the fact that alcohol abuse has become a disturbing problem for the active population of age 30-60 years. The AHI rates almost 30% of the active population as alcoholic abuser. The AHI splits 15% of them as light alcoholic abuser, 11% moderate and 4% alcoholic dependent. Unfortunately, the AMOD does not publish official data for the military personnel, alcohol abusers, but the problem exists. “Involvement of drunk military personnel in car accidents, domestic violation, criminal activity and high rate divorces are some of the symptoms of the alcohol abuse”, explains Doksani Dr. (2017), in his article. The Albanian society considers the alcohol consumption usually, acceptable, and represents our tradition. Additionally, during social meetings, birthdays, weddings ceremonies, luncheons, even while drinking coffee, is normal and usual having an alcoholic drink. The increased rates of alcohol abusers in the young population have become a problem. Beside natural, psychological and genetically will of human nature to consume alcohol, there are social and environmental problems that encourage the alcohol …show more content…
They set the example of ethical behavior in every AM unit. They identify the ethical issues, evaluate them and provide to the AM commanders available solutions. Additionally, they influence the commanders to make ethical decisions and take the appropriate actions for alcohol abusers, using the ethical lenses for analyzing the problem and making the most ethical decision. Another factor that makes the SGMs role very important in the AM environment is the lack of specialized training and organizations for the alcohol abusers. Other actors that SGMs involve in the problem-solving process, instead of those trainings and organizations are staff specialists, chaplain, and staff judge advocate. These actors help to provide education and interpretation to Soldiers the applicable rules and regulations. They also conduct assistance, counseling and reinforcement training and support to cope and solve the problem.