Mexico’s armed forces honor and public trust, Digi Mart USA News: A commentary published by Revista Armas examines what distinguishes a soldier or sailor from anyone else in the armed forces. The article states that whether a person serves as an enlisted soldier or as a general in the Mexican Army, or as a sailor or admiral in the Navy, all members share the common identity of serving in the armed forces.
The article draws on the epic tradition, noting that the soldier receives power from the community and returns it as duty, courage and will. It says this service is paid with risk and recognition, sustained by discipline and conviction, and ordered by honor.
The author also notes that literature about war shows the opposite side, where honor can become rhetoric that dresses up senseless obedience.
According to the commentary, a soldier overcomes that contrast when honor becomes a daily, demonstrable practice, shown through habits, submission to the law, civilian control and public verification. The article argues that honor is the internal principle, while honorability is its verifiable expression and the basis for social recognition.
It says both depend on each other, since honor without verifiable conduct becomes appearance, and honorability without honor does not produce trust.
The author cites the Discipline Law of the Army, Air Force, National Guard and Navy, as well as the Discipline Law for Navy Personnel, which place honor alongside obedience, justice and morality. The commentary argues that military power requires verifiable honorability, external supervision and accountability, and that civilian control cannot be replaced by a corporate code of honor alone.
The article references the 2025 National Survey on Trust in Public Administration (ENCOAP) by INEGI, which ranks the armed forces as the most trusted institution, with 75.9% high or moderately high trust among the urban population aged 18 and over. It also cites Latinobarometro data showing an increase from 49% in 2020 to 58% in 2023, and a National Urban Public Security Survey (ENSU) result placing perceived effectiveness of the Army at 79.7% in December 2025.
The commentary notes that these figures measure trust and perception rather than honorability in a strict sense, but says the credibility is valuable and reversible.
The article concludes that sanctioning those who commit crimes, corruption or dishonor protects those who comply and gives citizens certainty, which it describes as the cultural change Mexico urgently needs to counter fear and distrust.
