I finished reading the CDS/DM Initiating Directive for Professional Conduct and Culture. In general terms I found that it struck the right tone and indicates that in the opening phases of our cultural change we are at the very least pointed in the right direction.

There is, indeed, much to commend in the document and, most importantly, it is important to note that this is just the Initiating Directive. Culture change and improving professional conduct will take time and effort, and one mere document can't articulate all that must be done.

I share here one interesting phrase which has caused me to ponder not a little bit on its implications: see the screen grab:

Those who know me, know I am quite the history buff and, perhaps more germane to this thread, one who sees our customs, mores and traditions as a force multiplier: a tool to build and enhance cohesion and esprit de corps. There is pride amongst our personnel for the unique....

...traditions and heritage that bind us together and give us a sense of belonging to an institution with a noble calling and, notwithstanding glaring examples of misconduct and poor judgement, many admirable qualities. Devotion to duty, service before self, teamwork...

....defending our families and friends: these are all values we attempt to instill in ourselves and our personnel and which are, I believe, reinforced by many of our traditions and customs. So, I've been mulling over what "undue" deference to tradition might entail...

and I've landed on a few things: firstly, any tradition that demeans, ostracizes or serves to belittle our members is not a tradition worth having. Surely there is a place for hard, challenging, and mentally/physically taxing training, we are warriors after all, but this can be..

achieved respectfully. Secondly, many of our traditions should, nay, MUST remain in place. The CAF is a unique institution with a unique role in our society and we should not be tempted to be too quickly done with many of the elements of our organization. A military exists to

do things that in many ways are anathema to civilian life. This necessarily demands a unique culture that is completely foreign to the 99% of Canadians who don't serve in the military. But, that does not justify harmful, discriminatory or immoral conduct which...

...in reality erode trust, confidence and cohesion, and therefore negatively effect operational effectiveness: ironically, the very thing that inculcating our personnel with a healthy respect for our traditions aims to avoid. So, to someone like me who cherishes our heritage...

and traditions, I feel we are at an inflection point where we must reassess if these mores and practices contribute to our cohesion and effectiveness, or serve to drive us apart. In this vein, keeping traditions simply because they are traditions is untenable, but determining...

and eliminating traditions found to be divisive must be done cautiously, with profound and deliberate contemplation. If, after such soul-searching, there are mores and practices that are found wanting, they should rightly be jettisoned with no tears shed and no sleep lost.