With such a rich history dating back to the Revolutionary War, West Point has been committed to moral and ethical excellence.
West Point’s Cadet Honor Code states, “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal or tolerate those who do.”
Not only is the code to help cadets get a better understanding of the ethics it takes to be a military officer, but it also helps to build a mutual trust between cadets as well, making life on campus more pleasant, said West Point alumnus Harry M. Johnson.
“Trust is a key part of our professional skills,” he said.
The academy strives to make sure trust is built and maintained between cadets because one may ultimately have to trust another with their lives, Johnson said.
Third-year cadet Nicole Zajimovic explained that West Point has a motto they live by: “Take the harder right rather than the easier wrong.”
Aside from the physical consequences of not living by the code, losing one’s honor and integrity as a cadet could be something that some never recover from, and nothing is worth that, Zajimovic said.
With West Point expecting no less than excellence from their cadets, their honor code is a vital tradition that will continue to be so for as long as the academy stands, Zajimovic said.
— Rodrigo Valverde
