The goal of the West Point experience is to develop leaders of character who live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence.
The goal of the West Point experience is to develop leaders of character who live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence.
West Point develops leaders of character through a 47-month process through its academic, military, and physical programs. This West Point Leader Development System (WPLDS) synchronizes the different programs and ensures an emphasis on character development is integrated into each element.
West Point's culture of character is best exemplified by the cadet honor code.
The Academy's focus on leadership development ensures its graduates thrive in complex environments and are prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation.
Character Carved in Stone
Explore the walking tour"To build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and nation."
The West Point Leader Development System focuses on teaching cadets to live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence by focusing on five facets of character - Moral, Social, Civic, Performance, and Leadership.
Internalization of the Army values that results in the knowledge, integrity, and awareness to assess the moral-ethical aspects of every situation and the personal courage to take appropriate action regardless of consequences.
Cadets:
Demonstrates the empathy, loyalty, respect, and humility that enable an individual to treat others with dignity and to display selflessness.
Cadets:
Acts with proper decorum in all professional, social, and online environments.
Cadets:
Possesses the sense of duty, resilience, and grit necessary to accomplish the mission and get results.
Cadets:
The ability to inspire and develop others while establishing a safe, positive command climate where everyone thrives while achieving tangible results.
Cadets:
"West Point graduates may be gifted thinkers, excellent tacticians, and physically fit athletes, but only if they also demonstrate strong character, will they earn and maintain the trust of the American people and the soldiers they lead as while serving as stewards of the Army profession."
Developing leaders of character is a shared responsibility. All staff, faculty, and upper-class cadets act as role models and focus on integrating character development into every interaction. Each USMA department, directorate, and center is responsible for character development. The Simon Center for Professional Military Ethic (SCPME) provides specific expertise for character development.