Special Report: Moral Readiness for Just Large-Scale Combat Operations

About this Report:

Beginning in 2009, the Command and General Staff College Foundation has partnered each year with the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College to host an annual ethics symposium at Fort Leavenworth. These annual symposia provide an opportunity for academics and practitioners to come together to discuss ethics as they relate to the profession of arms, the practice of state-controlled violence, and national security.

The 2025 CGSC Military Ethics Symposium was conducted April 1, 2025, with the theme of “Moral Readiness for Just Large-Scale Combat Operations.” The symposium included a variety of guest speakers, panel discussions, and paper presentations. The Symposium was followed by the Combined Arms Center Ethics Instructor Training on April 2, 2025.

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Special Report: Moral Readiness for Just Large-Scale Combat Operations – pdf

Inside this Report:

Can a War be Just without a Just Ethic?: Ethical Considerations for Large Scale Combat Operations
Cecil Eric Avery

Ethical Implications of Military Medicine in Large Scale Combat Operations
Jon Butler

The Military Police Contribution to Moral Readiness in Just Large-Scale Combat Operations
Michael Demmon

Army Aviation, Large Scale Combat Operations, and Just War Theory
Andrew Dressler

Is Your Character Prepared for War
Stephen Echols

An Ethical Consideration: Problems of Force Sustainment in Littoral LSCO
Joel M. Giese

Responsibility and Artificial Intelligence in Air Defense Artillery Weapon Systems
Joseph Lively

An Ethical Stance on Coercive Interrogation Methods
Robert M. Miller

Ethical Implications of Religious Support in LSCO
Hank Mauterer

Greek Paideia: H2F V.1.0. Closing the phronesis Gap by the Igniting the Thumos
Chris Moody

Unprofessional Conduct: The Dangers of Unprofessional Leadership in a Large-Scale Combat Operation
Brett Newman

LSCO 2065: The Ethical Implications of Artificial General Intelligence
Benjamin Reed

The Challenges Presented by World Religions During Large-Scale Combat Operations
Paul J. Roman

Ethical Implications of Cyber Warfare in Large-Scale Combat Operations
Glen W. Thompson

Human Resources and Human Dignity: LSCO’s Ethical Implications for the Human Resources Support Element of the Sustainment WFF
Matthew L. Whitehead

The CGSC Military Ethics Symposium

The CGSC Military Ethics Symposium is an annual symposium co-sponsored and hosted by the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College (CGSC) and the Command and General Staff College Foundation and Alumni Association.

These annual symposia provide an opportunity for academics and practitioners to come together to discuss ethics as they relate to the profession of arms, the practice of state controlled violence, and national security.

It is the goal of Command and General Staff College and the Command and General Staff College Foundation to facilitate lasting relationships among the military and civilian academic community. To accomplish this goal, we invite military, academic and professional personnel to participate in the CGSC Military Ethics Symposium. This allows us to build a community of expertise that includes both military and non-military thinkers.