Dear Friends and Alumni,
Our mission to graduate leaders of character has remained unchanged for nearly 200 years.
The core values of Honor and Respect are at the very foundation of all programs and
processes that contribute to successful execution of this mission. Like their predecessors
in the Long Gray Line, today's West Point graduates continue to adhere to and embody a
standard of ethical conduct of which you can be proud -- and on which all citizens of the
United States can rely.
The Honor Code, perhaps above all else, binds graduates of all eras; it
allows us to "grip hands" across the ages. In ensuring our alumni understand
what endures and what has changed, our newly established Center for the Professional
Military Ethic drafted a "White Paper" on the Code and the associated Honor
System. It is intended to reassure graduates that in spite of many challenges, the Code
remains strong and firmly in the hands of our cadets. They care about the Honor Code and
their development as leaders of character as much as we did; they continue to demand high
standards of honor from themselves and their fellow classmates. Together with the
leadership of the Academy, they are taking every effort to make it better.
What we as graduates must realize is that both our society and the Army are constantly
changing. Therefore, our curriculum, training and leadership development programs must
adapt to change while remaining firmly rooted to the ideals of "Duty, Honor,
Country." What must never change is our focus on the values of honor and integrity.
To this end, the Honor Code will forever remain the key element of West Point's cadet
development program.
The Cadet Honor Code and Honor System White Paper can be found on our Honor web page at
the following address:
http://www.usma.edu/Cpme/CPMEext/WhitePaper/PaperText.html.
It is presented in 3 parts. Part 1 describes the Honor Code and provides a short history
of each of the Code's tenets. Part 2 is a short history of the Honor System. In Part 3 we
present an update on the Honor Code and System today.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can forward your concerns directly to the CPME.
They are ready to provide a timely and helpful response. Send your comments to:
COL Mike Haith, Director of the Center for the Professional Military Ethic Phone:
(914) 938-2875
Address: Center for the Professional Military Ethic, West Point, NY 10996
E-mail: sm2931@exmail.usma.army.mil
CPT Bryan F. Karinshak, Special Assistant to the Commandant for Honor Matters
Phone: (914) 938-2711/3720
Address: Center for the Professional Military Ethic, West Point, NY 10996
E-mail: sb8145@exmail.usma.army.mil
On-line discussion of this topic is available for graduates at:
http://www.aog.usma.edu:8080/~AOGNet
We hope all of you find this document helpful.
Go Army!
DANIEL W. CHRISTMAN
Lieutenant General, US Army
Superintendent |
