<p>The way the Honor System exists now is a complete joke. Mids blow it off, knowing that if they get caught, they’ll be subject to remediation instead of separation. I’ve seen very clear-cut cases of premeditated violations of the honor concept that resulted in retention. What this tells most people here is that with very few exceptions, an honor offense will not lead to separation. </p>
<p>I hope that 2010 works hard toward fixing this.</p>
<p>While neither defending nor denying the Honor System, I’m confident the allegation that it “is a complete joke” is the real joke. And the broad-brushing that “Mids blow it off” is absurd, silly, unfair, offering more insight to the author than either the Brigade or its Honor System. Your edge would not merit a passing grade, I fear. C’mon HV, reign it in and communicate like the leader your being trained to be might. Not trying to pick a fight or even challenge your allegations. Merely suggesting that if you have a valid point, work at presenting it in a more honorable, mature manner.</p>
<p>HVWebster, GoNavyXC, the first thing one should learn Plebe summer is that they have become a very small part of a very large entity and that, to succeed, one must work within the confines of the organization. No longer will they be able to do what they want to do, when they want to do it, and how they exactly want to accomplish it. Whining and airing one’s dirty laundry in public is definitely not a part of being a viable part of any organization. With that said, I just got back from South Bend and am ready for a good discussion. Throw out some ideas and problems in a positive manner and lets go at them.</p>
<p>2010 is devoting their firstie years to fixing these issues in the honor concept. This is really our academy to develop, and we see it as a personal obligation to improve the INSTRUCTION, PROCEDURES, ADMINISTRATION, and SANCTIONING of the honor concept, and not why it is in place.</p>
<p>At Air Force and West Point, they have 2 separate documents for honor. One is their honor code, which changes maybe once every five years. This handbook outlines why they have the code and why it’s important, a history of the code, and the legacy of the code. Nowhere in this handbook does it saying anything about PROCEDURES.</p>
<p>Here, our honor concept is one document that includes why we have the honor concept AND the PROCEDURES for case processing and sanctioning. The bottom line is that we need to make it clear that lying, cheating and stealing are much more unacceptable than failing a class, failing the PRT, or abusing alcohol. Inability to trust is much more costly than a failure in judgment or lack of concentration in a class or physical readiness.</p>
<p>The honor concept at the Naval Academy is gaining an immense amount of momentum. 2010 is planning a number of initiatives that will try to inform recent classes and alumni of the lenient punishments. Although I feel I have the abilities to be a servicable naval officer, it will be bittersweet to walk across that stage in May knowing that our honor concept was never challeged. I personally will not let that happen for 2010 or any of the classes that are here during our training, at any cost. Accepting a commission in the United States Navy is a sacred event, but I would feel my own personal experience would be tainted if the honor concept was not more clearly defined before I left. Before I started as an investigating officer as a 2/c, I wondered why the sanctions of the honor concept were so inexplicably lenient (See HVWebster’s post) to the point where mids would balance and pre-meditate actions in their minds, then lean on honor to give them a lighter punishment. </p>
<p>During Plebe Summer, you learn to stand up to issues when no one else will. People are scared that their reputations are on the line and that they might “get in trouble” at the Academy. Personally, I feel that the Academy has been done a disservice for a number of years, and we deserve a better honor concept. At this point, schoolwork is like a collateral duty compared to the amount of work we’ve devoted to improving our honor concept as a class. People are so used to covering their own backs rather than standing up to the issues that pertain to EVERYONE. Mombee, do you think that I’m not devoting my cause to something larger than myself and for the better of the organization? </p>
<p>I do feel that a Bachelor of Science degree is certainly justified here. A commission means so much more. I don’t want to feel like I earned 50% of a commission, I want to know that I’ve earned the whole thing. Our honor concept needs to be addressed before 2010 can cross the stage, we owe it to our sailors, marines, and America. I am not saying that the other classes did not deserve the commission. I am saying 2010 is now in the spotlight, because we KNOWINGLY have a list of problems with our honor concept. Previous classes may not have seen the whole picture, but certain facts have been revealed to us (or by us) to the point where revamping the honor concept is a moral obligation in itself, that we can’t allow it to go on like this! Every class has a diiferent obligation or project that looms over it, and I think 2010’s is coming to grips with our value system and moral integrity.</p>
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<p>Honestly, I haven’t enough information to make a decision. However, your following statement does give me pause: </p>
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Throughout your career, as you quietly and competently go about doing your job, you will be frustrated by those who subsequently report to your command and rant long and loud about how screwed up their division is and how much they have to do to fix it, bringing attention to themselves about how great they are doing, and by doing so, receive a better fitrep than you. Which of you did the better job? Which one had the best interests of the command at heart? I have always questioned the motives for throwing one’s predecessor under the train as a part of doing their job.</p>
<p>I do question why you feel that the alumni need to be in the loop on this. Alumni who are not there and do not know the present dynamics of the system. Alumni now who have ulterior motives in questioning the diversity initiatives of the Navy.</p>
<p>Just a few observations. This is a system designed to get everyone involved. To be handled at the lowest level possible. A system designed for one plebe to be able to handle an offense with his roommate and no requirement for it to go any further. It is a system where ‘lenient’ punishment is a viable solution. It is a also a system where informal low level solutions are becoming more difficult. The honor board must do what a squad leader did in the past. The past that you so intensely want these alumni to hear about. For example, until recently, a first class only had to sleep and go to classes on the Yard. Basically he could spend the remainder of the week at his girl friends apartment. He may have been given the silent treatment and not even be around enough to realize that he was being punished. Back in the days when a plebe could report to an upper class after evening meal in rain gear over sweat gear over service dress blues with M-1 and be shoved out in the shower with the water on full hot and the rifle rigged gave upper class a lot more opportunities to ‘administer’ the honor concept. Now, of course, since this type of enforcement is not possible, the board must be more involved. But they will be more involved in education as opposed to punishment. Too lenient and the Brigade will laugh. To strict and the Brigade will not report offenses. And lastly, any legal system has to have a check and balance. The Administration must be involved. They have their own goals and requirements. To ignore them will only lead to frustration by the board.</p>
<p>Good luck, you have a lot of difficult work ahead of you.</p>
<p>Bottom line: give me an officer I can trust whether it is because of individual ethics, an honor code or honor concept, it does not matter. But, don’t send me someone who is a known liar.</p>