Core Values in the Danish Armed Forces

The Danish Armed Forces constitute a unique and diverse workplace. The core values anchor us in a common framework, ensuring that the Armed Forces remain an attractive and rewarding place to work. We actively utilize our core values to reflect on who we are, what we do, and how we solve tasks; both internally and in cooperation with external colleagues.

The Armed Forces values are founded on a humanistic worldview embedded in the concept of democracy; rules, regulations, and laws are complied with, and the Armed Forces contribute to peace and stability through everything we do.

Credibility

We act in a careful and deliberate way, we are ethically responsible, and we do what we say we do. All levels of personnel, from private to commander, act with honesty and integrity, as is expected of them. They do so while focusing on the task at hand. Tasks are solved in a way that facilitates and ensures coherence between actions, values, methods, and principles. We walk the talk.

Transparency

We aim to have transparent decision-making, we encourage creative thinking, and we process and learn from mistakes. The Armed Forces encourage transparency, and we communicate what we do to the extent that it is operationally possible and responsible. Adherence to decisions made is facilitated by explaining the rationale behind them. If we can explain what we do and why we do it, people will support it and back it up. We encourage creative thinking in everybody, whether private or commander, to support constant development, commitment, and flexibility in the face of new tasks. Danish Armed Forces personnel accept risks and openly acknowledge mistakes, and we learn from them.

Trust

We trust that our colleagues do their very best to support us; just like we do our very best to support them. Trust is a prerequisite for solving the core tasks facing the Danish Armed Forces; personnel, staff, and commanders depend on each other as individuals and as an organization, ultimately with their lives at stake. Trust, recognition, and meaningful communication charge people and motivate them to solve tasks in unison.

Autonomy

We make the necessary decisions, we modify them when needed, and we never lose sight of the objective. Everybody in the Danish Armed Forces, from private to commander, solves their tasks with integrity and professional pride. Everybody uses their skills, abilities, and resources constructively to solve their assigned tasks. Autonomy facilitates constant delegating of responsibility as far down the chain of command as possible in order to determine objectives, means, assets, or methods. This empowers the individual.

Responsibility

We take responsibility for the tasks we are assigned, and we solve them with the assets and resources allocated. Danish Armed Forces personnel, whether private or commander, take responsibility for solving their tasks by actively contributing to meeting demands set. All tasks and assignments comply with current laws, regulations, rules, and common decency. We reject tasks that do not. We are all responsible for this.