This article examines the meaning and content of ethical action competence. Integrity is denoted as the most important aspect of ethical action competence. Integrity is defined as the wholeness of a person’s moral principles, values and roles. This wholeness is searched for through an understanding of different meta-ethical theories as mutually complementary moral structures instead of competing, mutually exclusive theories.

The article perceives military ethics as a broader societal phenomenon. This poses a larger question of what kind of a society is best suited for cultivating moral integrity. In the article, general level of education is identified as a factor at the root of building ethical action competence. Consequently, societies with high-quality public education systems could best support ethical action competence both as a citizen and as a soldier. The Nordic welfare state is a model example of such a society portraying a general ethos of caring. Similar ethos can be seen reflected in the traditional Finnish military ethical principle, “kaveria ei jätetä”, no one left behind. In conclusion, a strong welfare state with emphasis on the valuation of education makes for (ethically) better soldiers, and moreover, when successful, the military service can cultivate more active and responsible citizens.