Soldierly Virtues It's good to be reminded that what are often thought of as soldierly virtues -- physical courage, self-sacrifice, and willingness to go silent or even lie to protect others -- are not exclusive to those who bear arms. Veterans will often tell stories of the bravery of those who've served in "non-combatant" roles, including unarmed nurses and medics who served despite (or perhaps because of) their deep commitment to peace. When Arjuna finally declared that he would no longer fight, surely there was no doubt of the boundless courage implicit in that surrender.