Spiritual Development of the Commissioned Officer

Junior Company Grade Officer

Captain John Hoyman, U.S. Army

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Part three in a series of five articles The purpose of this series is to provide a glimpse of what Christian military officers may face as they span the years of their careers, thus proving a tool to equip younger officers before they reach these stages.

Fifty-nine local OCF leaders responded to questions like these:
- Are there spiritual challenges that officers face at certain career milestones?
- Are there distinct opportunities, spiritually speaking, at certain stages along the way?
- If so, what are they and how can someone make the best use of those opportunities?

The Challenge of Acceptance
One of the prominent challenges for junior company grade officers is the temptation of acceptance at any cost. Not unlike the temptation to fit in upon starting junior high, high school, or college—a similar peer pressure exists for the new officer.

Acceptance is a natural desire for all human beings. Every time one graduates from the old and enters a new stage in life, acceptance is a driving motivation. Junior Christian officers must discern what is important to give up and what is important to retain in the new culture of active duty military life. Some toss aside their faith. Others stay true to their values, but become reclusive and irrelevant to those who serve with them.

Successfully standing against negative peer pressure is related to the officer’s connection to other Christian officers in his or her current area of service. This is why the relationships new officers choose within the first month of a new assignment are extremely formational to the entire tour, often setting the tone for much of their career.

The believer who has chosen to make his or her closest connections with other Christians has the positive effect of the encouragement those relationships provide. However, this can lead to isolation from non-Christians. Christians who seek relationships outside of the unit structure for questions of life direction can find themselves isolated from their unit. And if there is a deployment, their support structure is stripped. Maintaining vital relationships within their unit without losing their spiritual center is a critical developmental task for Christian officers who hope to make an impact for the kingdom of God.

Additionally, since many young officers are searching for acceptance, Christian to them. In an environment where value and significance is based on performance, the acceptance and grace that Christ offers is a breath of fresh air.

The Idolatry of Work
Workaholism is another challenge new officers must battle after their initial entry training. One Army lieutenant described workaholism as “idolatry of work and the rewards associated with doing well—placing work above relationships with God, family, and others.”

This is a delicate balance, as the officers’ witness for Christ is largely dependent upon their performance. The desire to be a witness by outstanding service can unwittingly be replaced by making career success a god. What starts as a vehicle to be a solid example for non-believers can become an all-consuming end in itself.

The Opportunity to Demonstrate Integrity
Passing from the commissioning source to the active military is a testing of any officer’s true loyalties. Ethical decision-making is imbedded in the curriculum of all officer commissioning sources, whether an academy, ROTC detachment, or Officer Candidate School. Once active, the same military that taught these values will test them. For example, young lieutenants may be asked to fudge numbers on a readiness report so that their unit looks better.

Will new officers value the “group think” of their current unit or will they find a deeper value within themselves? Due to the nature of the authority and responsibility that military officers receive directly out of college, the ethical decisions they face are comparable with others four to five years out of college. Whether it be commanding a platoon of forty soldiers in combat or solo piloting a several-million dollar aircraft capable of incredible destruction, only some handle this new level of ethical decision-making well.

In an article directed to junior officers, Lieutenant Colonel Marv Gordner reminds young officers of the importance of integrity with this verse, “Nothing is more valuable than a good name (Proverbs 22:1).” He then goes on to describe a situation in which he allowed his reputation to be tarnished in the short term to correct a mistaken perception by a senior officer.

By putting truth before his reputation, he risked professional repercussions for the sake of doing what was right. In the long run, he obtained the trust of his commander, though it could just as easily have turned out differently.

The Opportunity of Witness
Christians used by God are grounded in their beliefs, have solid, unshakable spiritual disciplines. These officers engage the military culture, not as it should be, but as it is. Many young Christians enter a unit and think that they are alone in their faith, only to find out that if they become willing to make their faith known, Christians and people interested in spiritual growth come out of the woodwork.

Having the courage to start a Bible study or to invite others to chapel or church is the first step toward being a light in a dark world. One respondent to the survey noted that young officers often have a better opportunity to evangelize because they are not as likely to be perceived as improperly using their rank to influence other’s thoughts on religion.

A majority of respondents to the survey said that setting the example of godly living was key to the influence of the young officer. If the only thing that sets Christian officers apart is their lack of foul language, their sights are set too low. Christian officers should be set apart as well by their care for others, their professionalism, and their spiritual passion. Sometimes Christians are set apart because they are simply out of touch with the current society and not necessarily because they are living passionately for Christ. This is counter-productive, as our distinctiveness should be because of Christ, not because we just happen to be a bit different. Setting a godly example has more to do with what the Christian intentionally does, rather than what he or she does not do.

The newly commissioned officer is in a unique situation to serve the body of Christ. Many are not obligated by family commitments yet, and the Christian company grade officer can volunteer much of his time in chapel programs, youth programs, and other ministries of service. Military youth are a ripe group for biblical teaching and example, as they face numerous transitions in their young lives. Parents love to see young officers who love Christ be a positive influence on their kids, not only morally and spiritually, but also as an example of the importance of having discipline and completing college.

Individuation of faith is critical for the spiritual survival of Christian service members as military service often uproots one from his circles of fellowship. Though military officers must actively seek fellowship, they must be strong enough in their own beliefs to weather transitions and not simply adopt the values of their unit that may contradict Christian belief. A mature junior officer has learned how to stand alone for Christ, whether the Christian fellowship is dry or rich.

As printed in COMMAND magazine, April 2007.

Gordner, LTC Marv, US Army, Christian Leadership for the Junior Officer, COMMAND, Aug 2005, Vol. 53, No. 6. (Denver: Officers’ Christian Fellowship of the USA, 2005), 7.