Can a president order a soldier?

In sum, the Commander in Chief Clause gives the President the exclusive power to command the military in operations approved by Congress; it probably gives the President substantial independent power to direct military operations so long has the President does not infringe exclusive powers of Congress or other …

Should a military officer refuse an order on moral grounds?

The authors object to the idea that a military officer should refuse an order on moral grounds because “one individual’s definition of what is moral, ethical, and even professional can differ from someone else’s.”4 This claim appears to let the military officer off the hook from making any moral decisions.

What happens if an officer disobeys a military order?

Any officer that decides to disobey an order from the President or higher up has put themselves in a position of having to prove it was illegal in a military court. What normally results though is if an officer gives an illegal order (and its CLEARLY illegal), the officer will rescind it prior to having to defend it in court.

Can a military officer dissent from a legal order?

Breaking Ranks: Dissent and the Military Professional. There are circumstances under which a military officer is not only justified but also obligated to disobey a legal order. In supporting this assertion, I discuss where the tipping point lies between the military officer’s customary obligation to obey and his moral obligation to dissent.

What is the duty of a military officer to his subordinates?

The military professional’s core values and oath of office demand the exercise of moral autonomy in carrying out orders. He has sworn to defend the Constitution and safeguard the welfare of his subordinates. Implicit is the obligation to challenge orders whose consequences threaten either without apparent good reason.