A group of classmates just completed a ethics session at West Point with the Class of 2014 on May 5th.  See the group picture of atendees Mike Conway, Mark Brennan, Joe Mastriani, Dan Hornbarger, Bob McCoy, Tom Kullman, Dan Evans,  and Max Johnson at:

http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/images/ethics/ethicsgroup.jpg

Also see pictures taken by Mark Brennan  of the event at:

http://www.west-point.org/class/usma1964/ethicsinmay/

Mark Brennan's thoughts

I was privileged to go back to my old company, A-1 to support the company 1st sergeant present the class that could be called "Reflections on Plebe Year".  The 1st Sgt, Cadet Romedy Murr, a triathlete, did an outstanding job, stimulating a good discussion about what the plebes had learned about the honor code, leadership, respect for others by asking them how they would be treating the incoming class.  Though I had not been with this group before, I could see that their maturity had grown in the past year.  They absorbed the old "lead by example" that we learned after dealing with the various levels of maturity of our upperclassmen.  I was impressed as these cadets "got it".  Though a couple of them stated they thought that Plebe Year would be more difficult, they were not disappointed in the challenges they faced.  One of the challenges CDT Murr put before them was "What will it take to get you to raise your hand to commit to being an officer?", referring to the commitment 2nd Classmen make at the beginning of Cow Year.  Great question with profound implications.  These young cadets are being challenged with personal decisions that I don't remember dealing with as a plebe or yearling.  I found the afternoon enlightening and stimulating.

On 5 May, I met with the Plebes of Company F-2 and the topic was
"Reflections of Plebe Year".  It was led by a Second Class Platoon Sergeant.
He began with a description of what his upbringing had been to include why
he had selected to go to West Point.  I chimed in with it was really a 30
minute TV Show in the 50s called "West Point" that spurred my interest.  In
it some cadet was always facing a difficult dilemma and managed to solve the
problem in 30 minutes, and of course they all marched away to the tune of
"The Official West Point March".  I also had a Major General Evans from the
Class of 1915 (Class the Stars fell on) who took an interest in me, and
provided me with a Catalogue and managed to get me tickets to the 1958
Army-Navy football game where Dawkins, Anderson, and Carpenter beat the
Navy.  Unfortunately when I graduated from High School, I was qualified to
go but no appointment.  Then I faced the choice of go to the Naval Academy
or sign on as a Private and go to the Prep School.  I chose the latter, and
the Class of 2014 agreed with my choice.  When I finally made it into West
Point in July of 1960, it was the fulfillment of a dream come true.

I told them the mechanics of a "Shower Formation" and how I thought the
first night if an Officer saw what was going on here, there would be "Hell
to pay"; it was at that moment that our TAC came through and beat my neck in
and I gave up all hope.  So I pointed out how hazing could sometimes lead to
demeaning practices which violated the principle of "Respect", and therefore
classes on this topic were important in the Professional Military Ethics
program.  The Plebes then gave a frank discussion of the problems of
leadership within the company-problems of approachability, and diminishing
attention to their development as the year went along.  A certain amount of
that would be expected, as First Classmen began to focus on their soon to be
careers as officers in the Army.  I told them that no matter who their
leaders may be, they could take notes on both good and bad techniques, and
they should emulate the good and try their best to avoid the bad.  In
conclusion, one cadet said that when he was in elementary school one day, he
heard this huge explosion and debris flying around as the World Trade Center
fell to the ground.  His dad who was a policeman or fireman (I can't
remember which) got a hold of him and told him that he might not be
returning this day and to look after his Mom and brothers and sisters.  His
dad did make it through OK but he lost an Uncle in the 9-11 Tragedy.  He
said at that very moment, he knew he wanted to go to West Point and do
something about the problem.  It always inspires me to be around the
outstanding men and women in the Class of 2014.  Max Johnson