Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men plays an important role in challenging social structures that hinder professionals in the disciplined forces from pursuing their goals and objectives. On many instances, compliance in the military is demanded, as officers are expected to align their interests with the orders issued by their bosses in senior ranks within the military. Despite the morality of the orders given by the senior officers, juniors are supposed to embrace them without any sign of revolt because of the need to demonstrate their respect for the seniority levels. However, Kaffee’s resilience and determination to pursue the good deeds in life expose him to a risky situation that could see him exposed to a court martial for defiance. By taking the higher road, Kaffee helps to exonerate two of his friends who were being prosecuted for murdering a fellow marine in Guantanamo Bay naval base.
Even though Kaffee was a junior officer in the military, his determination and internal grit to challenge the norms saw him challenge a senior military official who had issued a “code red” order, which contributed to the marine’s death. When the case is transferred to Kaffee, the senior officers were expecting him to take a plea because of his inexperience handling grave matters that would yield to adverse outcomes. Importantly, Kaffee’s inexperience and inability to handle the case would see the senior officials get away with their crimes that exposed another officer to his death. However, Kaffee’s personal goals introduce him to an enabling environment where he can question the normalization of crime in the military’s leadership structure.
While Kaffee’s relationship with the two accused officers was not strong, he did not expose them to his inexperience but instead, opted to pursue justice for them and the dead marine. Kaffee’s attitudes and values define his legal presentation in the court martial, which plays a significant role in exonerating them from the charges. When the base commander is put on trial, he maintains his lies, which Kaffee counters with legal facts that compel him to admit issuing the “code red” order responsible for Santiago’s death. Both Commanding Officer Kendrick and the base commander acknowledge their involvement in the crimes that killed Santiago, a move that transformed Kaffee’s overall identity in the military.
I related with Kaffee’s inexperience because of the fears I had when I enrolled in the institution. I was unwilling to participate in debates and always took the easy way out of every difficult situation I encountered. However, one of my mentors helped me develop a different perspective towards life, which has shaped my nature of interactions with other people in my surroundings. I am now a focused individual who helps other people overcome different situations in their immediate environment.
By taking the higher road, Kaffee helps to exonerate two of his friends who were being prosecuted for murdering a fellow marine in Guantanamo Bay naval base. Kaffe’s bold move expose the approaches that inexperienced officers can use to voice their concerns regarding various issues that interfere with their focus in life. Even though Kaffee seized the opportunity to accomplish different goals, his ability to tackle the case without showing contempt for the military leadership played a significant role in restoring order in the organization.
