US Army General promises to launch military ethics drive

US Army General Martin Dempsey Sunday vowed to launch a military ethics campaign in the wake of recent scandals.

In a statement, Dempsey noted the importance of understanding the challenge that ethical lapse pose to the military, adding that military officials must continue to "see the challenge clearly and precisely", Xinhua reported.

Dempsey said that "this challenge didn't accumulate overnight, and it won't be solved overnight".

The US Air Force and the Navy, in the last few weeks, have disclosed investigations of cheating on tests by officers and sailors involved in nuclear operations. The Air Force also is pursuing a drug use investigation, and sexual assault and harassment cases have surfaced across the services.

"Acts of crime, misconduct, ethical breaches, command climate and stupidity each require a distinct solution," he said. "But the overall solution is attention to who we are as a profession. And that's my focus."