THE PROFESSIONAL ETHICS OF BRAZILIAN AIR FORCE OFFICERS

The Brazilian Air Force (FAB), through the Aeronautics Directorate of Education, executes twelve categories of courses to educate and train career officers and temporary officers. However, a look at the professional training of junior officers reveals shortcomings, especially concerning the teaching of military ethics. The document defining the professional profile of FAB officers, Professional Profile of Aeronautical Officers (PPOA), does not make clear distinctions about the ethical aspects associated with the combatant role of each specialty. Therefore, the PPOA does not define the attitudes, values, and skills necessary for the performance of the guard and security missions executed by all junior officers or warfare missions performed by career officers. Moreover, there is no conceptual and intellectual agreement in FAB about the competencies that characterize a military professional, nor any definitions about the roles that this professional should play in society. This thesis demonstrates that the curricula of the FAB courses for officers, in the military field, must be modified to meet the demands of the mission to be performed, which is evolving from a traditional profile to a hybrid war profile. Also, the thesis identifies the necessary balance between technical and military knowledge, demonstrating that ethical and moral education is the nucleus that connects all classes and specialties within the FAB.http://archive.org/details/theprofessionale1094562244Lieutenant Colonel, Brazilian Air ForceApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited