Cadet Honor Code & Honor System
United States Military Academy
Relevant Excerpt
The Foundation of Character Development
At the heart of the U.S. Military Academy's mission is the cultivation of leaders who possess exceptional character. The Cadet Honor Code provides the foundation for shaping a cadet's character; it's not just a set of rules but the starting point for those aspiring to live above the common level of life.
The Cadet Honor Code is not a restriction; it's an invitation to build a foundation of integrity that can withstand any challenge. The Code's unwavering demands serve as a guide, a source of motivation, and a transformative force during the formative years at West Point. The Cadet Honor Code helps cadets develop into people who are honest all of the time. Over their years at West Point, cadets’ daily adherence to the Cadet Honor Code—on decisions big and small—forges strong habits of trustworthy character.
This attuned focus equips cadets to recognize and then to “choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong” whenever faced with a difficult decision. This creates a baseline of honest behavior and a culture that supports character growth.
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Three Rules to Live By
Cadets use the “Three Rules to Live By” to ensure that an action they are considering would not be dishonorable. The Three Rules ask:
- Does this action attempt to deceive anyone or allow anyone to be deceived?
- Does this action gain or allow the gain of privilege or advantage to which I or someone else would not otherwise be entitled?
- Would I be dissatisfied by the outcome if I were on the receiving end of this action?
If a cadet can answer “Yes” to any of these questions, the act would likely be dishonorable, undermining trust in that cadet and tarnishing the honor of the Corps.
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Spirit of the Honor Code
An act that fails the “Three Rules” test is not necessarily a violation of the Cadet Honor Code. There is sometimes a gap between avoiding what is wrong and doing what is right.
The spirit of the Cadet Honor Code fills that gap. Cadets strive to internalize the Cadet Honor Code’s intent, which is to become unquestionably trustworthy. Cadets are said to live by the spirit of the Cadet Honor Code when they are truthful, fair, respectful, and responsible in all their actions.
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Essential to West Point's Mission
Despite its demands, living under the Cadet Honor Code is very rewarding for cadets. Others take cadets at their word, and they enjoy a trustworthy barracks environment, an honorable reputation, and the internal satisfaction of living with integrity. Building trustworthy character is essential to West Point’s mission because trusted leaders are much more effective, especially in the demanding, morally ambiguous environments of war.
Beyond the Academy, the effects of the Cadet Honor Code resonate throughout a graduate's military service and beyond, unifying the "Long Gray Line" in a shared commitment to personal integrity and unwavering professional responsibility.