The impact of the war on terrorism on our military is profound. Over the past decade, the Army has expanded rapidly, lowered its entry standards and reprioritized its training goals. Now that wars are abating, the military once again faces change due to budget cuts and troop reductions. Such actions have forced critics to question whether the military is still meeting the expectations of a profession. The answer is that the Army holds the title “Profession of Arms” like never before. It is a profession because it is defined by trust, competence and ethics; characteristics found in all occupations that claim to be a profession. The U.S. military ultimately exists as a profession because of the relationship of trust it has with the American people. The citizens of America, through the Constitution, rely on the Army for security; carry out missions that they are unable or refuse to carry out themselves. This is the ultimate form of trust; if it were to dissipate, the profession would become non-existent. A practical example of this in a recognized profession is the doctor-patient relationship. If a patient feels that a doctor is unable to help them in treating their health, they will seek alternative doctors or self-medicate. Unfortunately, the Army's attention to this relationship has not always been great. On numerous occasions during the wars, small numbers of soldiers abused this trust by mistreating detainees or harming civilians. To be fair, however, the Army is not alone in making such mistakes. Professions are not immune to the immoral actions of a few; on the contrary, it is the way they treat these individuals that makes it a profession. The Army has taken on the responsibility of conducting investigations and maintaining it... middle of paper... as a profession today. In conclusion, the trust, competence and ethics of the Army make it a profession. As in any organization with high expectations, problems arise and changes must occur. The War on Terror certainly creates challenges for the Army, but like any other profession, the Army will have to adapt and overcome difficulties. The military is holding true to the title “profession of arms” like never before. Works Cited Caslen, Robert L., LTG and CPT Nathan K. Finney. Army ethics, public trust, and the profession of arms. Department of the Army. http://www.dtic.mil.“Trust in institutions”. November 24, 2013. Gallup. http://www.gallup.com/poll.Franks, Fred, GEN. "Unified Mission Keynotes." Speech, West Point, New York. January 12, 2011. http://cape.army.mil“Profession of Arms: An Army White Paper.” Department of the Army, 8 December 2010. http://cape.army.mil.