Military Review English Edition March-April 2014 | Page 23

DEVELOPING TRUSTWORTHY OFFICERS

Developmental Concept
Activity

Outcome

Instruction-Study-Reflection……..>> Knowledge & Understanding
Practicum……. >> Adherence & Discipline
Assessment……>> Confidence & Belief
Experience…… >> Leadership & Wisdom

1. Instruction, study, and reflection include classroom work, lectures, discussions,
reading, role playing, case studies, journaling, and contemplation.
2. Practicum includes activity focused on applying the Code of Ethics (e.g.,
service-learning, volunteering, leading project teams, etc.), remedial or mentor
programs that result from violating the Code of Ethics, social activities with staff and
faculty, and extra-curricular activities.
3. Assessment includes formal evaluations in academics, military education and
training, and physical and athletic endeavors. An important contributor is the guidance received in the form of coaching, counseling, and mentoring.
4. Experience includes activities such as summer details, internships, intercollegiate
competitions, and all duties away from the academies or campuses.
Figure 3
Developmental concept

and direction, West Point and all sources of commissioning should adopt a code of ethics and
implement a system for adjudication of alleged
violations that is administratively and legally
sufficient.
A key goal in developing future officers should
be to develop their appreciation for and adoption of
the code of ethics as their own. Cadets, midshipmen,
and candidates must know it, adhere to it, believe
in it, and lead others accordingly. Kurt Lewin,
Albert Bandura, Edgar Schein, and other notables
in the field of human development and social psyMILITARY REVIEW

March-April 2014

chology write that one is influenced by his and her
environment. To endure, the elements that make up
an environment must also be considered valid and
worthy of continued use. Thus, the code of ethics
will become an inherent, cardinal characteristic
of the ethic, ethos, and culture of the source of
commissioning—part of the environment—if the
transformation is logical, inclusive, inspirational, and
beneficial to all. The transformation will require
source-of-commissioning leadership and the staff
and faculty to be champions. If done according to
the developmental concept depicted in figure 3,
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