This article was printed in

BreakPoint with Charles Colson entitled An Army of One?: Embracing Radical

Individualism.

"The U.S. military has

traditionally taught soldiers the virtues of 'duty, honor and country.'

In the Marine Corps, we learned to subordinate ourselves to the corps,

to the unit to which we belonged but all that may be changing.

"You may have seen the

Army's new recruiting ad, featuring a young soldier running alone across

the desert. He says, 'Even though there are 1,045,690 soldiers just like

me, I am my own force ... And I'll be the first to tell you, the might

of the U.S. Army doesn't lie in numbers. It lies in me. I am an Army of

one.'

"Well, as anyone who's

ever served in the military can tell you, solitary, independent-minded

soldiers don't win wars. They more likely get killed. The type of radical

individualism promoted in this ad undermines two essential military principles:

a unit's cohesion, and its willingness to follow strong leaders into combat.

So, why, after 20 years of

inspiring would-be soldiers to 'Be all you can be!' has the Army suddenly

decided to promote this vision of the self-centered soldier? It's simple:

declining numbers.

"Since 1995 the Army has

fallen short of its recruiting goals three times and barely met them three

others. The out-going secretary of the Army, Louis Caldera, says the situation

demands a change in the way the Army communicates with young people. Linda

Wolf, head of the agency that created the campaign, explains that the

ad is aimed at young adults 'who don't like being told what to do.'

"She says, 'They really

want to be in control. They really want to make the decisions themselves.

And the whole idea of "An Army of One" does just that.'

"Well, unfortunately,

the change of direction illustrated by this ad also reveals the Army's

embrace of an aspect of today's dominant secular world view which exalts

radical, personal autonomy as the ultimate goal of life. By embracing

the same kinds of self-gratifying, narcissistic appeals of popular culture,

the Army is promoting military service as an expression of personal freedom.

"In marked contrast, the

Marine Corps still promotes what retired Gen. Charles Krulak calls 'the

qualities America holds dear: honor, courage, commitment.' In the late

'90s, in the midst of great recruiting shortages, then-Commandant Krulak

actually raised recruiting standards and toughened physical training requirements.

He also refused to integrate men's and women's training programs or barracks.

"And in spite of or, perhaps,

because of this tough approach, the Marine Corps achieved all its recruiting

goals. Gen. Krulak said it best: The Marines 'recognize what Generation

X and Generation Next want and haven't been getting. They want standards.

Instead of softening up, we tightened up,' he said.

"Well, Krulak is right.

Tough standards that mean something, develop strong character. Marine

recruiters recognized our need to be part of something bigger than ourselves.

The motto, Semper Fidelis always faithful says it very well. But 'An Army

of One' misses it badly, and I hope the Army abandons this campaign. Whether

for soldiers in foxholes, or the rest of our culture, for that matter,

arrogance and ego do not hold us together.

"Rather, we need a commitment

to one another, a regard for the common good, and the old-fashioned virtues

of 'duty, honor and country.'"

Any of this going on in our

churches? The second great commandment explained by Jesus includes a balance

between individualism and the common good: "Love thy neighbor as

thyself." It is true that one man or woman with God is a majority,

but it is also true that working together we can accomplish so much more

for His kingdom.

The Rev. Dr. Knox Herndon is

the pastor of His House Community Church (SBC) and a substitute school

teacher in the Fayette County School System, and a former Army chaplain.

The church has moved to its new location just below Senoia on Ga. Highway

85. Going south on 85, you cross Ga. Highway 16, and the church is a mile

on the right just below the fire station. Prayer line 770-719-2365; e-mail

[email protected].