Transcript for Interview with Major Kirk L.

Holt Interviewer: What is [was] your job description when you were in the military? Major Kirk L. Holt: Over my 22 year career in the military, I held several positions. Despite these jobs, all military personnel are assigned to what the U.S. Army calls Military Occupational Specialties (MOS). A soldier's MOS will determine his or her area of specialization for job training purposes. My specialty area was as a Logistics Officer, which included responsibility for establishing an infrastructure on the battlefield for fixing, maintaining and disposing of all military equipment depended on the fight a war. In the latter part of my military experience, I trained for a second occupational specialty area--Civil Military Operations. This job required trained military personnel to serve as primary advisors to a military unit's leadership structure regarding how to preserve life and property of as well as minimize risks to civilians on the battlefield. During my two deployments, Desert Shield/Storm in the early 1990s and Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004, my primary responsibilities were concentrated in the Civil Military Operations profession. Interviewer: What is the Code of Conduct? Major Kirk L. Holt: The Code of Conduct for U.S. Military Personnel is a ethical guide that governs actions of U. S. fighting forces while in combat. The articles of the Code of Conduct prepare soldiers to serve honorably and courageously in the unfortunate event that requires evading capture, or resisting the enemy while in captivity. The Code is outlined within six distinct an equally important articles (or pillars). These pillars provide the framework and establish the expectations by which military forces are to oppose all enemies of the United States government. The fundamental aspect of the Code is the willingness to give your life honorably in the defense of our country. Interviewer: How were you first introduced to the Code of Conduct? Major Kirk L. Holt: The Code of Conduct is the critical part of every Basic Training class in the military regardless of branch of service. Early in every service members' career, the principles and concepts of the Code of Conduct are drilled into the minds of every entry level soldier. These lessons are repeated in every basic and advanced leadership course taught in the military training program. The Code of Conduct is a critical and primary piece of military and training doctrine. All soldiers are issued a small book, called the Soldiers' Handbook, that fits in the uniform cargo pocket. During down time while training or at any opportunity, soldiers are encouraged to conduct personal improvement, or "hip pocket" training. One of the primary lessons in the book is the Code of Conduct. Interviewer: How did the Code of Conduct affect you? Major Kirk L. Holt: Fortunately, during my deployments for war, I was never an enemy prisoner of war. However, serving in a war zone with these guiding principles heightens

the importance of taking seriously the basic training strategy of "training as you fight". This means your training environment must always assimilate the war time environment to enhance your individual and unit readiness while subject to the stresses of the battlefield. The Code embodies the importance of having the best trained fighting force in the world. It also emphasizes the importance of leaving no soldier behind. In addition, I was always comforted that if anything ever happened to me on the battlefield that the Code guarantees that the United States government would always take care of my family. Interviewer: Do you believe the Code of Conduct provides for responsibility for captive solders? Major Kirk L. Holt: Yes, in a war environment, enemies will undoubtedly try to use captured U.S. enemy prisoners of war against the United States. The most common use would be to extract intelligence for the enemy to gain an advantage over the U.S., or for propaganda purposes. Many of the tactics are considered inhumane, and include various measures of torture. Living by the Code of Conduct sets the stage to allow U.S. fighting forces to prepare for escape from the enemy, to exist in captivity honorably, and to resist the enemy at all costs. These responsibilities can be difficult to carryout under the most dangerous and extreme circumstances. The Code provides military personnel, through years of training, a psychological edge to remain committed to the Code as well as maintain loyalty to the U.S. Interviewer: Do you think the Code of Conduct is important? And why? Major Kirk L. Holt: The Code is not only important, it is critical to the defense of this country and the protection of its citizens. It also ensures a strong foundation for building and maintaining the best and most dedicated fighting force money can buy. The Code of Conduct encourages a well trained fighting organization to perform difficult military missions while, at the same time, functioning with the highest standards of ethics. Any compromise to these high standards of ethics could result in actions taken against a compromised service member punishable pursuant to Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Kirk L. Holt MAJ, USAR (retired)