Developing Leaders of Character

USMA is dedicated to developing leaders of character who are prepared to serve the Nation with character, competence, and commitment. Developing Leaders of Character (DLC) empowers the West Point team to develop commissioned leaders of character.

Developing Leaders of Character

USMA is dedicated to developing leaders of character who are prepared to serve the Nation with character, competence, and commitment. Developing Leaders of Character (DLC) empowers the West Point team to develop commissioned leaders of character.

Letter from the Superintendent

 

Members of the West Point Team,

Our unwavering dedication to developing the Corps of Cadets into commissioned leaders of character for the Army continues to be exceptional. I extend my sincere gratitude to those of you who have contributed to our critical mission, and to those who are beginning their service at this hallowed institution.

All members of the West Point Team - cadets and all military and civilian staff, faculty, and coaches assigned to West Point - play a crucial role in developing commissioned leaders of character who live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence. Developing commissioned leaders of character is our mission-essential task and thus is my top priority. This crucial role extends to stewarding our culture of character growth, a culture that is vital to being the world’s preeminent leader development institution.

Although we all contribute in unique ways to building, educating, training, and inspiring the Corps of Cadets, we all must be committed to developing the character of cadets. Character development is the most important thing we do at the United States Military Academy (USMA). I expect you to take advantage of every interaction with a cadet as an opportunity for character development, to set a standard for professional behavior, and to encourage character growth within each other. This is our collective responsibility.

Developing Leaders of Character (DLC) is our foundational document. It summarizes at the institutional level how we achieve our mission through the West Point Leader Development System. All lower-echelon publications should be consistent with the guidance it provides. DLC is meant to empower your actions toward effectively developing leaders of character; the document serves as my commander’s intent for the achievement of our mission. Read it and understand your role in accomplishing our mission.

In addition to DLC, I also expect every member of our team to read and understand their roles in the USMA Strategy and in my annual guidance. The Strategy describes my priorities in five Lines of Effort (LOEs); these LOEs prioritize areas of growth as we continue to achieve our vision of being the world’s preeminent leader development institution. My annual guidance is informed by our assessments and further prioritizes our efforts and resources.

In closing, I ask you to be positive, do your best, and be a good teammate. Only together will we continue to develop leaders of character who live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence. Thank you for your commitment.

STEVEN W. GILLAND
Lieutenant General, U.S. Army
Superintendent

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

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"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."

- USMA Mission

Our Mission-Essential Task

Developing commissioned leaders of character, USMA’s mission-essential task,3 is the most important thing we do at West Point.4  USMA graduates are expected to be trusted servants to the Nation. They voluntarily accept an exceptional and unremitting responsibility to lead honorably and effectively America’s sons and daughters in winning our Nation’s wars. 

A graduate’s character demonstrates the principles that guide an officer’s judgment, attitudes, decisions, and actions towards fulfilling the responsibilities associated with the oath they voluntarily take:

*Endnotes and definitions of key terms in the USMA Mission can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

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"West Point is the preeminent leader development institution in the world."

- USMA Vision

The West Point Team of Character Practitioners

Every member of the West Point team has an important and unique role not only in developing character but also in stewarding our culture of character growth. It is truly what distinguishes West Point as the world’s preeminent leader development institution.

The West Point team consists of:

  • Cadets
  • Faculty
  • Staff
  • Coaches

Everyone on the West Point team is a character development practitioner who demonstrates good character and professionalism while also actively participating in the education, training, and inspiration of cadets. Developing Leaders of Character (DLC) empowers the West Point team to develop commissioned leaders of character (CLC).

To be empowered in finding ways to develop character, each member of the West Point team should understand their critical role in the following areas:

West Point Leader Development System (WPLDS)

The West Point Leader Development System (WPLDS), the comprehensive and integrated approach to character development outlined throughout Developing Leaders of Character (DLC), distinguishes West Point as the preeminent leader development institution and requires a culture that prioritizes character growth throughout the pursuit of academic, military, and physical excellence. This holistic development is achieved through WPLDS.

To develop cadets into leaders of character, cadets are immersed in WPLDS, which is designed to harness every facet of the West Point experience while leveraging specific developmental events and activities to reinforce and assess character and honorable living. 

Cadets’ primary role in WPLDS is to take ownership of their personal development, seeking to grow professionally and become leaders of character. They are also expected to serve as exemplary role models and trainers, enhancing the development of peers and followers.

WPLDS Graphical Depiction in Detail

WPLDS is the purposeful integration of character and leader development through the academic, military, and physical development programs, all within a culture of character growth. WPLDS provides the structure in which West Point accomplishes the mission of developing commissioned leaders of character (CLC).

  • Represented by the gray outer circle in WPLDS graphical depiction encompassing all developmental experiences and the broader community of West Point.
  • WPLDS takes place within a culture of character growth that is the overarching environment that shapes character development.
  • The culture exists within the context of the organizational and regulatory structure of the academy and the Corps and consists of artifacts, traditions, expectations, and social norms surrounding cadets, and it is what truly distinguishes USMA from other commissioning sources.
  • The West Point team promotes that character development is caught, taught, and sought.  

Represented by a gold circle in WPLDS graphical depiction encompassing all developmental experiences.

Comprehensive Character Development (CCD) is the structured set of cadet developmental experiences and leadership interactions that strengthen a cadet’s character - their reliability to do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reasons, and with the right attitude.

The three development programs - Academic, Physical, and Military - occur within the gold circle.

Represented by the red circle in WPLDS graphical depiction. The circle overlaps with the other two programs (Physical and Military) and the circular activities of Practice Following / Practice Leading occur within that overlap.

Academic Development occurs within USMA’s Academic Program, which is responsible for the intellectual development of each cadet. 

This development primarily occurs through a broad liberal arts education called the Academic Core Curriculum. It includes core courses, an engineering sequence, and a study-in-depth component (academic majors and minors), all of which are described in USMA’s Red Book.

Represented by the green circle in WPLDS graphical depiction. The circle overlaps with the other two programs (Physical and Academic) and the circular activities of Practice Following / Practice Leading occur within that overlap.

Military Development occurs within USMA’s Military Program, which is responsible for developing in each cadet the foundational military competencies, including the Army’s pre-commissioning training requirements, all of which are described in the Green Book. 

Military development also includes many of the formal and informal leadership roles referenced above.

Represented by the white circle in WPLDS graphical depiction. The circle overlaps with the other two programs (Academic and Military) and the circular activities of Practice Following / Practice Leading occur within that overlap.

Physical Development occurs within USMA’s Physical Program, which is responsible for challenging each cadet in activities that promote holistic health and optimal physical performance to prepare them for their commission as leaders of character who are physically fit and mentally tough.

Represented by two gray blocks connected by arrows that illustrate an iterative process, this is located at the center of the WPLDS graphical depiction, where three programs (Academic, Military, and Physical Development) overlap.

At the core of WPLDS are the challenging leadership development experiences that build a cadet’s ability to provide purpose, direction, and motivation with care and precision.

  • 4th class cadets practice followship.
    • Their development is grounded in the Army Leadership Attributes: Character, Presence, and Intellect.6
    • 4th Class cadets learn and understand the underpinnings of these Leadership Attributes (Army Values, Warrior Ethos, Military Bearing, Judgment, etc.).
    • These attributes are reiterated throughout the entire cadet experience.
  • 3rd class cadets, in their first formal role as leaders, start to practice the leadership competencies - with an emphasis on leading.
    • Yearlings lead by personal example while refining their communication and trust-building skills.
  • 2nd class cadets, in their formal role as cadet sergeants, refine their leadership competencies.
    • While continuing to lead their subordinates, they take on a greater role in efforts to develop their subordinates, creating a positive environment and assuming stewardship of the Army profession.
  • 1st class cadets, referred to as cadet officers, are the organizational leaders of the Corps.
    • They establish a vision for their unit, from the company to the brigade level, and work to achieve the results of that vision.

At every iteration of the Practice Following / Practice Leading progression, character remains the cornerstone of the West Point experience. 

The formal and progressive leadership experiences are informed by seamlessly integrated academic theory and iterative, immersive, experiential learning opportunities. 

This developmental progression occurs during both the academic year and in summer training opportunities. It also occurs throughout the totality of cadet activities and experiences – from NCAA athletics to academic trip section opportunities.

Cadets are expected to apply insights from past education and experience as they reflect, grow, and develop, all while being assessed and supported by members of the West Point team.

Represented by a gold box that contains the WPLDS outcomes and the accomplishment of the West Point mission: Developing Commissioned Leaders of Character (CLC).

A Commissioned Leader of Character:

  • Lives Honorably
  • Leads Honorably
  • Demonstrates Excellence

WPLDS promotes cadet development by integrating the three developmental programs and comprehensive character development at the institutional, program, course, and activity levels. 

  • At the institution level, USMA leaders ensure the required experiences sufficiently cover and reinforce the WPLDS outcomes.
  • At the program level, integration occurs when leaders ensure courses or activities intentionally connect learning across experiences, especially those contributing to Comprehensive Character Development.
  • Staff and faculty find meaningful ways of integrating some facet of character development into their efforts. All faculty, staff, and coaches provide formal or informal feedback; many also systematically plan for and assist in structured reflection at critical points throughout the cadet’s experiences.
  • Integration occurs when faculty, staff, and coaches form, coordinate, or blend seemingly disparate developmental experiences into a unified and synergistic whole greater than the sum of the parts, thus achieving a greater developmental effect. 

All developmental experiences overlap in the WPLDS graphical depiction to underscore this goal. The most impactful development occurs when cadets integrate the knowledge and practice gained across the breadth of their developmental efforts.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

WPLDS Outcomes and Sub-Outcomes

West Point’s graduates are leaders of character who live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence; these three components are referred to as the WPLDS outcomes. They require comprehensive and integrated development across the academic, military, and physical development experiences, grounded in a culture of character growth.

Cadets become commissioned leaders of character when they live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence. These are the three fundamental outcomes of the WPLDS and are designed to meet the requirements of the Army’s future operating environment. 

The outcomes align with Army doctrine and the Army Ethic, which requires that professional officers are: 2

  • Honorable Servants of the Nation - Professionals of Character who Live Honorably
  • Stewards of the Profession - Committed Professionals who Lead Honorably
  • Army Experts - Competent Professionals who Demonstrate Excellence

These three WPLDS outcomes, shown in the WPLDS graphical depiction, are defined by sub-outcomes to further delineate how each overarching outcome is defined and understood. 

The outcomes and their supporting sub-outcomes have been purposefully aligned with the attributes and competencies described in the Army Leader Requirements Model.5 

Graduates who achieve the WPLDS outcomes are commissioned as officers who then earn and maintain the trust of their Soldiers, their leaders, and the American public, while inspiring those they lead with the character and competence that our Army and our Nation expect.

USMA graduates:

Sub-outcomes:

  • Internalize the Cadet Honor Code, West Point Motto, and Army Values.
  • Demonstrate moral courage regardless of personal consequences.
  • Treat others with dignity and respect.
  • Act with humility and professional decorum in all environments through appearance, demeanor, behaviors, and words.

USMA graduates live honorably when they move beyond compliance-based adherence to the Army’s professional standards and internalize their role as a professional Army officer and leader for the Nation. This internalization allows their actions on and off duty to exude the strong character and selfless service our Army and our Nation expect, and ensures their adaptability to future challenges.

Sub-outcomes:

  • Accomplish the mission consistent with the Army Values.
  • Know, adhere to, and enforce standards.
  • Build cohesive and effective teams.

USMA graduates lead honorably when they move beyond compliance-based adherence to the Army’s professional standards and internalize their role as a professional Army officer and leader for the Nation. This internalization allows their actions on and off duty to exude the strong character and selfless service our Army and our Nation expect, and ensures their adaptability to future challenges.

USMA graduates lead with honor when they provide purpose, direction, and motivation that enable a team to accomplish assigned missions in accordance with the Army Ethic. They continuously foster cohesion and capability in their organizations.

Sub-outcomes:

  •  Maximize academic, military, and physical performance.
  • Seek challenges and feedback; reflect and improve.
  • Communicate and interact effectively.
  • Anticipate and solve complex problems.

USMA graduates demonstrate excellence when they exhibit strong professional competence intellectually, physically, and militarily while continuously striving to progress in their knowledge, skills, and abilities to meet the evolving needs of the Army and Nation.

The WPLDS outcomes guide West Point teammates in determining, resourcing, and integrating the developmental experiences at USMA that ensure graduates thrive in complex situations and environments, humbly and confidently contributing to their teams within the Army profession and beyond.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

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"Duty, Honor, Country"

- West Point Motto

The West Point Experience

WPLDS is enacted through an integrated core experience that is sequential and progressive in complexity and provides a common foundation for each cadet. The conceptual layout of the West Point Experience graphic presents these experiences sorted by development and time. 

Viewed together, the conceptual layout of the West Point Experience graphic and the WPLDS graphical description help the West Point team to visualize how components of WPLDS contribute to cadet development, and then to empower everyone to better integrate those components.

Conceptual Layout of the West Point Experience in Detail

From Plebe year through Firstie year, cadets progress through rigorous academic study, physical training, military leadership roles, and continuous character development within a culture of character growth. Each milestone (Acceptance Day Ceremony, CFT  Graduation, Affirmation Ceremony, Ring Weekend, and commissioning) marks growth toward becoming a Commissioned Leader of Character (CLC).

Represented by gray sections that encompass all other sections (Comprehensive Character Development; Commissioned Leaders of Character; Academic, Physical, and Military Development; and Foundational) . 

The culture of character growth contributes to cadet development through the following activities:

Feedback:

  • Informal: During / after class, in the academic or cadet areas, etc.)
  • Formal: PDRs, CDRs, and CORs enhanced by small instructional class size

Role Models:

  • Staff
  • Faculty
  • Coaches
  • ORs
  • Club OICs
  • Academic advisors
  • Chaplains (Spiritual Fitness and Religious)
  • 50-Year Affiliation
  • Sponsors

Milestones:

  • 4th Class Year: Acceptance Day Ceremony
  • 3rd Class Year: CFT Graduation
  • 2nd Class Year: Affirmation Ceremony
  • 1st Class Year: Ring Weekend, Commissioning

In conjunction with Commissioned Leaders of Character, Comprehensive Character Development is represented by the gold sections that encompasses Academic Development, Physical Development, Military Develoment, and Foundational sections. This illustrates that Comprehensive Character Development is part of all four encompassed sections.

Represented by red section that spans all class years and exists within Comprehensive Character Development (gold), Commissioned Leaders of Character (gold), and Culture of Character Growth (gray) sections.

Academic Development includes the following activities that lead to a Bachelor of Science:

  • Core curriculum
  • Engineering sequences
  • Study in depth (majors and minors)
  • Character Thread
  • IADs

Represented by white section that spans all class years and exists within Comprehensive Character Development (gold), Commissioned Leaders of Character (gold), and Culture of Character Growth (gray) sections.

Physical Development includes the following activities:

  • Army Fitness Test (AFT)
  • IOCT (3rd, 2nd, and 1st class years)
  • Physical education courses and IADs
  • Competitive sports (intercollegiate, competitive club, or company athletics)

Represented by green section that spans all class years and exists within Comprehensive Character Development (gold), Commissioned Leaders of Character (gold), and Culture of Character Growth (gray) sections.

Military Development includes the following activities:

  • Military Science courses and IADs
  • Sandhurst and Branch Week
  • Cadet Summer Training
    • 4th Class: CBT - Member of Squad
    • 3rd Class: CFT - Member of Squad
    • 2nd and 1st Class: CLDT, CTLT, and Summer Leadership Details - SL / PSG / PL / Staff
  • Progression within the Corps of Cadets
    • 4th Class: Member of Squad
    • 3rd Class: Team Leader
    • 2nd Class: SL, PSG, or NCO
    • 1st Class: PL, CO, Officer, or Team CPT

Represented by gold section that spans all class years and exists within Comprehensive Character Development (gold), Commissioned Leaders of Character (gold), and Culture of Character Growth (gray) sections.

Foundational Development includes the following activities:

  • Character Education Program:
    • Leader Challenge for Cows and Firsties
    • IADs
  • Primary Prevention
    • Deep Dives
    • Intervention Training
    • Weekly / Monthly Themes
  • ???
    • 4th and 3rd Classes: Squad 30
    • 2nd and 1st Classes: Mission Command Conference
  • Army Profession
    • 4th Year: Inspirational Professional Knowledge
    • 3rd Year: Inspiration to Serve
    • 2nd Year: Stewardship of the Profession
    • 1st Year: MX400 - Officership
  • Cadet Honor Code and Honor System

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

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"We do not learn from experience... we learn from reflecting on experience. Our experiences shape us, and when reflective practice is part of learning, meaning and relevancy is created, which initiates growth and change."

- John Dewey, from How We Think (1933)

Deliberate Leader Growth Model (DLGM)

Cadet development is more fully realized when it includes the components of West Point’s Deliberate Leader Growth Model 7(DLGM)

Where the Conceptual Layout of the West Point Experience summarizes the West Point experience, the DLGM shows how leader development can be optimally fostered by faculty, staff, coaches, and cadets - ultimately cultivating more self-aware, adaptive leaders of character. 

The DLGM takes advantage of important psychological elements to create a useful leader development model leading to deliberate growth. This model can be used to design and implement a specific activity within WPLDS or to integrate activities within or between programs. 

The DLGM in Detail

West Point’s culture is a critical enabler for leader growth. By integrating evidence-based psychological principles with West Point’s proven institutional practices, the DLGM serves as a powerful approach for shaping leaders who exemplify virtue in action.

This deliberate, comprehensive approach fosters growth in key areas, including the moral foundation and adaptive mindset necessary for service as a commissioned leader of character (CLC). 

The following briefly describes each of the components of the model.

Represented by gray section that encompasses all other sections in the DLGM

Represented by one of four white sections within the Culture of Character growth. This section is at the top of the graphic and has a dotted border that represents ???? Within this section, there are three gold sections - Mindset, Awareness, and Preparation - with addition signs between them, representing that the combination of these three terms are required to Set Conditions for Growth. 

Three factors - Mindset, Awareness, and Preparation - create the foundation for growth collectively referred to as the Leader Growth MAP. 

Different ways to develop each include:

  1. Mindset: Believing in growth through effort fosters resilience and persistence.
    1. This conviction, which creates resilience and persistence in the face of challenges, is reinforced through reminders of cadets’ own and others’ past improvements, sequenced activities that build mastery, and exposure to role models who demonstrate growth through persistent effort. 8, 9
  2. Awareness: Cadets develop awareness by recognizing their strengths, weaknesses, and growth areas, as well as the gap between current capabilities and relevant standards.10
    1. Such awareness, which is largely honed through assessment and feedback, motivates change and directs development efforts toward targeted areas for improvement.11,12
    2. Self-assessment enables cadets to evaluate their own performance against established standards.
    3. Cadets also gather essential performance feedback by way of open, honest communication from leaders and teammates through both formal and informal channels.
  3. Preparation: Success in challenges is maximized through goal-setting and deliberate planning, increasing the likelihood of meaningful development.
    1. Setting difficult and specific goals tied to personal aspirations13 and employing deliberate planning techniques14 substantially increase the likelihood of success in the face of challenge.

Represented by a one of four white sections within the Culture of Character growth. This section is below the Set Conditions for Growth section and is connected with a double-ended arrow, representing ???.  The graphic and has a solid border that represents ???? Within this section, there are three blue sections - Challenges, Assessment, and Support - with double-ended arrows between them, illustrating that each section should inform the others. 

Challenges are opportunities to apply leadership skills and test character under pressure and can be related to any of the activities in the Conceptual Layout of the West Point Experience.

Faculty, staff, and coaches deliberately structure these experiences to progressively increase in complexity as cadets continue to develop.

Represented by the last two of four white sections - Growth: Increased Knowledge and Capacity, Additional Feedback and Reflection - and a gold (+Time) within the Culture of Character growth. This section is below the Challenges section, and all three sections have a solid border that represents ????.  There are several double-sided arrows illustrating that following Challenges, Support, and Assessment, Additional Feedback and Reflection lead to Growth: Increased Knowledge and Capacity and the ability to better manage Challenges. In the center of these double-sided arrows is the gold section containing +Time, illustrating that deliberately providing time for these activities is key.

Growth occurs through structured feedback and intentional reflection. Cadets analyze their experiences through personal journals, discussions, and guided frameworks like "What? So What? Now What?" to deepen learning.

Cadets develop new knowledge and capacities by applying the lessons gained through the DLGM.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

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"To meet the combat leadership challenge, officers must demonstrate three things: (1) they must be competent, (2) they must exercise good judgement, and (3) they must have character. By itself, competence is meaningless without character and good judgement."

- LTG Hal Moore, USMA Class of 1945, from Hal Moore on Leadership

Culture of Character Growth

West Point’s culture of character growth sets the context for developing leaders of character and shapes individual behavior. It is a vital enabler for all character development activities and is what truly distinguishes USMA from other commissioning sources. Our culture underscores our place as the world’s preeminent leader development institution.

This culture of character growth, which exists within the context of the organizational and regulatory structure of the academy, and the Corps, consists of artifacts, traditions, expectations, and social norms that reinforce character development if emphasized correctly. 

West Point’s artifacts of monuments, statues, and buildings provide a constant reminder of the importance of striving to develop strong character to maintain West Point’s legacy of excellence. 

Traditions that transcend and connect generations are a source of inspiration when cadets memorize plebe knowledge, participate in similar training, and overcome similar challenges in cadet life. 

Every member of the West Point team stewards this culture and strives to meet long-standing expectations of living honorably, including upholding the Cadet Honor Code, and providing honorable service to the Nation.

West Point’s culture also requires social norms that enable effective character development and must be consciously maintained:

  • Be a role model. Moral exemplars are a powerful influence on our character. Everyone, including cadets, should provide a consistent example of what right looks like.
  • Make every activity count. Teammates recognize that every activity and interaction between teammates is a character development opportunity. We have a collective responsibility to take advantage of deliberate and spontaneous teaching moments whenever and wherever they occur
  • Demonstrate initiative. We all have an obligation to demonstrate initiative on how to connect character development to all activities in our sphere of influence. We cannot wait for detailed guidance to find ways to develop and strengthen character.
  • Integrate within and across programs. West Point does not have a separate character program; the best way to achieve our WPLDS outcomes is to infuse character development opportunities into all areas of cadet life. Every member of the West Point Team and every program is expected to find ways to connect and synchronize the various activities in WPLDS.

Teammates must be mindful of social norms that may unintentionally undermine character development. For example, the phrase “Cooperate and Graduate!” can encourage teamwork but, if misinterpreted, may excuse dishonorable behavior in the name of cooperation.

Similarly, while West Point staff, faculty, and coaches are experts in their fields, some may see character development as a secondary task rather than a core responsibility. This mindset can diminish its importance, influencing cadets to adopt the same attitude. 

Every member of the West Point team must recognize and challenge negative social norms. When you encounter one, speak out and replace it with a positive, character-building alternative.

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“Character is caught, taught, and sought.”

- Key Components of Character Development

When interacting with cadets, it can be helpful to remember the three key components of character development.16

  • Character is caught indicates that character is learned through socialization and through watching the actions of others. Role models and exemplars play a significant part in others “catching” character; thus, every member of the West Point team must be committed to demonstrating strong character.
  • Character is taught in formal and informal settings within the curriculum. Courses in the Academic Program and during several military program activities deliberately teach character, but character education can also happen in spontaneous teaching moments that occur in real time and in context.
  • Character is sought is a reminder that people are active in their own character development. USMA provides opportunities for cadets to cultivate character as they seek ways to demonstrate virtuous excellence. If cadets do not pursue those opportunities with the motivation to improve themselves, then culture and teaching will not have the desired effect.

Professional Climate Within a Culture of Character Growth

Like the culture of character growth, West Point’s professional climate is vital in shaping the cadet experience and enables character to be effectively caught. Different from culture, climate manifests in the immediate attitudes and actions toward each other and the collective outlook of the organization. 

Less persistent than culture, climate is temporary, changing due to current leadership, policies, academics, training, and events. A professional climate requires respect for the dignity of all individuals and is expected across our enterprise. West Point members look out for each other and strive to be good teammates within and across offices, departments, directorates, the academy, and West Point as a whole. 

West Point provides a growth-oriented environment to maximize opportunities for everyone to succeed. Teammates hold each other accountable to high standards, and that accountability is welcome.17

Understanding the relationship between the culture of character growth and the professional climate enhances and empowers efforts to develop (and sustain) the character of every West Point teammate. Promoting both is a continuous endeavor that requires vigilance, personal effort, and mutual accountability.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

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"I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade."

- Warrior Ethos

Comprehensive Character Development (CCD)

Comprehensive Character Development (CCD) is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character. These activities, derived from each of the developmental programs, are shown in the Conceptual Layout of the West Point Experience. The combined effect of all these activities, implemented within our culture of character growth, is to develop each graduate’s reliability to do the right thing, in the right way, at the right time, for the right reason, and with the right attitude.

Character development is not solely an intellectual exercise in moral reasoning. It also requires fostering the right motivations, skills, and capacity to ensure follow-through from knowing what to do and then implementing that decision with virtuous action. 

In many situations that require moral action, there is often a gap between knowing and doing the right thing. While most people can describe what moral action they should take, they frequently struggle to take the right action for a variety of reasons. Comprehensive character development is designed to help close the gap between knowing and doing.

In other situations, the required moral action is less clear because there are competing desired outcomes that require some compromise between virtues or values. In these situations, leaders are expected to exercise judgment to find the best answer for the situation. Cadets develop their judgment through experience and education in moral reasoning. Once they decide the most appropriate moral action for the situation, they face the same challenges of closing the gap between knowing and doing.

Components of Comprehensive Character Development (CCD)

The components of USMA’s CCD help guide and categorize character development efforts to increase the likelihood of someone taking the right action for the right reasons in the right manner. Each component contributes to a cadet’s ability to close the gap between knowing and doing the right thing.

Individually, none of these categories is sufficient for ensuring the proper action or behavior. A weakness in one of these categories makes it more difficult to act honorably. For these reasons, all WPLDS experiences should contribute to one or more of these categories as part of the comprehensive character development intended for each cadet.

As every cadet completes the West Point experience, they complete developmental experiences for each of these six CCD components. The desired outcome of this comprehensive integrated approach to character development is that every graduate can make the connections between these various experiences and understand how they enable a graduate to be a commissioned leader of character who lives honorably, leads honorably, and demonstrates excellence. While our graduates will never be perfect, they are prepared for continued character growth for the rest of their lives, always striving to strengthen their own character.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

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" A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do."

- The Cadet Honor Code

Character Education Component

Character education helps cadets internalize an officer identity - ensuring they not only have the knowledge of what is expected of an Army officer, but the desire to meet those expectations. Character education begins with the Cadet Honor Code, an unremitting foundational standard from the moment Cadets arrive on R-Day.18 

Building on that foundation, cadets learn the Army Values and how to apply them in multiple situations. Ultimately, added character education develops additional virtues and gives them the knowledge and motivation for fulfilling the moral obligations of the Constitutional oath they will take upon graduation. 

Character Education Component Framework in Detail

A comprehensive approach to character development requires virtues that go beyond the Cadet Honor Code and the Army Values. The Character Education Component Framework is based on virtue ethics19 and provides a more comprehensive consideration of the virtues necessary to be a person of character and a commissioned leader of character.

Moral, civic, intellectual, and performance virtues are necessary for anyone to live a good life and to have integrity. 

Martial virtues are also applicable to others, but are uniquely important to the Army profession. Developing the martial virtues in the framework defines an honorable person within the Army profession. 

Finally, the virtues included in this framework are embedded throughout the Army doctrine for the Army Profession and Leadership, Mission Command, and Holistic Health and Fitness. This framework simply organizes these virtues into a single source. 

The gold section at the top of the infographic contains the following text:

Good Judgment: Integrate and apply virtues appropriately in any situation.

Judgment is the foremost meta-virtue. Officers are required to demonstrate good judgment in all situations.

A gray box with a solid border representing ??? located below the the Good Judgment gold section. This box contains the higher-order virtue Honor.

This is followed by another gray box with a dotted border representing ????. This box contains the following text:

Be a good soldier.

Martial Values:

  • Duty
  • Candor
  • Courage
  • Patriotism
  • Obedience
  • Initiative
  • Sacrifice

A gray box with a solid border representing ??? located below the the gray Martial Values section. This box contains the higher-order virtue Integrity.

This is followed by four gray boxes with a dotted border representing ????. The text in each of the four boxes is listed below:

  1. Moral Values: Be a moral person
    1. Empathy
    2. Gratitude
    3. Honesty
    4. Humility
    5. Kindness
    6. Respect
  2. Civic Values: Be a good citizen
    1. Civility
    2. Justice
    3. Loyalty
    4. Responsibility
    5. Selfless Service
    6. Stewardship
  3. Intellectual Values: Be a good thinker
    1. Creativity
    2. Critical Thinking
    3. Curiosity
    4. Love of Learning
    5. Perspective
    6. Prudence
  4. Performance Values: Be a steady achiever
    1. Composure
    2. Confidence
    3. Discipline
    4. Grit
    5. Perserverence
    6. Resiliance

Once a solid foundation of the Cadet Honor Code and Army Values is established early in the WPLDS experience, cadets should expand their character development to incorporate the virtues and continue that development for the rest of their lives. 

In a culture of character growth, every member of the West Point team should be a moral exemplar who demonstrates these virtues in their own lives.

Character education also addresses primary prevention of harmful behaviors because character and primary prevention are understood as mutually reinforcing endeavors. By developing and practicing character virtues, any trust-eroding behaviors are expected to diminish. Further, strong character and good judgment support primary prevention by developing the skills and motivation for effective intervention and promoting a professional climate.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

Leadership Skills Component

While effective character education is necessary, it is not sufficient for closing the gap between knowing and doing the right thing. The Leadership Skills Component Framework shows the leadership skills cadets need to empower them with the confidence to do the right thing. 

Self-management and relationship management are important skills for implementing the right moral action. These skills are emphasized in Army Leadership Doctrine.20 Additionally, many of these skills align with best practices in primary prevention to reduce harmful behaviors or risk/protective factors for building a professional climate.

Leadership Skills Component in Detail

The gold section at the top of the infographic that contains the following text:

Decision Implementation (Doing the Right Thing)

Judgment is knowing the best action. Leadership skills provide the tools needed to implement the action.

The first of four gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The four boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Decision Implementation section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

The Self-Awareness box contains the following text:

  • Recognize emotions
  • Understand the source of your emotions
  • Recognize your strengths
  • Know your values
  • Perceive yourself accurately
  • Believe in personal efficacy
  • Have a sense of spirituality

The second of four gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The four boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Decision Implementation section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

The Self-Management box contains the following text:

  • Manage stress and anxiety
  • Self-control
  • Goal setting
  • Focus
  • Respond to feedback
  • Activate hope and optimism
  • Seek help when needed

The third of four gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The four boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Decision Implementation section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

The Social Awareness box contains the following text:

  • Showing respect for others
  • Appreciating various backgrounds and experiences
  • Active, careful listening
  • Demonstrate empathy
  • Understand others
  • Understand non-verbal communication
  • Sensitivity to noticing changes in others
  • Understand social norms

The last of four gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The four boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Decision Implementation section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order

The Relationships box contains the following text:

  • Communicate clearly
  • Manage conflict
  • Demonstrating sensitivity to non-verbal cues
  • Manage emotions in relationships
  • Harmonize conflicting feelings
  • Build relationships
  • Exercise assertiveness
  • Provide help

The first two categories of self-awareness and self-management focus on individual development that enables a cadet to set a good example of self-control in all situations. The other two categories are necessary to build cohesion, communicate effectively, motivate others, and resolve conflict. 

Most of these skills are embedded throughout Army Profession and Leadership Doctrine.21  Just as prevention is interwoven into character development, it is also reinforced by mastering these leadership skills. The knowledge, skills, and abilities of primary prevention, such as intervening in the face of harmful behaviors, supporting one’s teammates, and maintaining cohesion and trust within one’s team, are the very skills of an engaged and active leader.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

Holistic Health and Fitness Component

Finally, cadets build capacity for moral action through holistic health and fitness.22 A person who is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually well has a higher capacity to act honorably. A leader who is tired, stressed, emotionally unwell, and spiritually unmoored will find it more difficult to act honorably.

Holistic Health and Fitness Component in Detail

Army Doctrine for Holistic Health and Fitness 23 establishes five categories of fitness included in the Holistic Health and Fitness Component framework. The skills within these categories build the capacity for excellent physical performance and the capacity to serve as a commissioned leader of character who achieves peak performance in all areas. 

The gold section at the top of the infographic that contains the following text:

Holistic Health and Fitness

The capacity to do the right thing.

The first of five gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The five boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Holistic Health and Fitness section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

  • Personhood
  • Identity
  • Growth Orientation
  • Personal Agency
  • Coping Strategies
  • Connection

The second of five gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The five boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Holistic Health and Fitness section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

  • Character
  • Behavior
  • Resilience
  • Cognitive Skill
  • Social Acuity

The third of five gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The five boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Holistic Health and Fitness section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

  • Physical
  • Structural Capability
  • Movement Skills

The fourth of five gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The five boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Holistic Health and Fitness section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

  • Proactive
  • Active
  • Reactive

The last of five gray boxes with a dotted border representing ???.  The five boxes are arranged horizontally below the gold Holistic Health and Fitness section and therefore do not represent a hierarchical order.

  • Duration
  • Timing
  • Continuity

The significant overlap between these categories and other aspects of the West Point approach to character development and primary prevention of harmful behaviors illustrates the mutual reinforcement of these concepts and the need for effective integration to ensure we provide the necessary repetitions without being unnecessarily repetitive.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

Stewardship and Accountability, Professional Climate, and Primary Prevention Components

The Character Education, Leadership Skills, and Holistic Health components emphasize individual development. However, other contextual factors influence a person’s behavior. A person may know what to do, have the skills to act, and possess the capacity for right action, but the environment could be an obstacle. 

The Stewardship and Accountability component reminds cadets that their actions impact the team. Stewardship inspires cadets to take the long view of preserving the honor of the academy and the Army profession. Accountability motivates cadets to develop habits that ensure honorable living in themselves and others. 

The Professional Climate component creates a climate absent the fear of ostracization or retaliation, enabling honorable action by all members of the West Point team. 

Finally, the Primary Prevention component seeks to develop knowledge, skills, and abilities through effective education to reduce harmful behaviors that erode trust, cohesion, and respect among teammates.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

Integration of Cadet Development

WPLDS provides the structure for the integration of efforts in the development of commissioned leaders of character. Because of the importance of integration in developing these leaders, this section defines effective integration within WPLDS and sets expectations for everyone.

Integration occurs when faculty, staff, and coaches form, coordinate, or blend disparate core developmental experiences (shown in the Conceptual Layout of the West Point Experience) along with extracurricular experiences (those not part of a required activity) into a unified whole that achieves an effect greater than the sum of the parts. As stewards of West Point’s precious resources, its leaders must seek, identify, and follow through on opportunities to achieve effective integration of character development.

Effective integration requires some additional effort by those responsible for development activities. However, these efforts result in significant impacts as they:

  • Reinforce critical and complex concepts that require multiple learning experiences.
  • Synchronize supplemental and reinforcing experiences.
  • Identify gaps in the achievement of stated outcomes.
  • Gain efficiencies in cadet development by eliminating unneeded redundancies.
  • Facilitate everyone’s understanding of how one activity or experience contributes to the intended overall outcomes as well as related activities and experiences (second and third order effects of integration).

Although integration of every cadet development activity with another related activity is optimal, West Point prioritizes the integration of character development activities. This prioritization manifests in the integration of CCD experiences. The academic, military, and physical programs integrate character development experiences from Cadet Basic Training (CBT) to graduation, and the Academic Board (AB) is the mechanism for ensuring effective integration.

To effectively integrate cadet development, leaders at all echelons must:

  • Understand how their programs (or activities) contribute to the higher echelon’s outcomes.
  • Identify areas of redundancy (and connections) in and across programs and determine if these are intentional and appropriate.
  • Assess if and how desired outcomes can be better achieved through integration within or across existing programs and efforts.
  • Draw upon existing assessments to guide future progress; establish, as appropriate, measures of performance (MOPs) and measures of effectiveness (MOEs).
  • Carefully and deliberately analyze the impact of their activities on integration with other activities.

Examples of Character Integration at the Institution and Program Levels

Institution (across programs)

Faculty, staff, coaches, and cadets discuss examples of both strong character and ethical/moral shortfalls by historical figures in challenging situations, particularly when these are discussed in other character development activities at USMA (e.g., Thayer Award speech, Cadet Oath Ceremony, etc.).

  • The instructors of plebe academic courses reinforce and build on character concepts taught during CBT.
  • Following Leader Challenges or Inspiration to Serve events, instructors of courses attended by these cadets take class time to reinforce development.
  • Tactical scenarios utilized during CFT, CLDT, etc., include situations that deliberately challenge the judgment and ethical decision-making of cadets as they lead operations. During these scenarios, cadets, trainers, and facilitators reinforce concepts discussed in previous character education classes during the academic year.
  • Faculty, staff, and coaches understand the content within MX400, Officership, and coordinate with MX400 faculty to connect to and reinforce character development topics.

Program (within academic, military, and physical development)

Informed by assessments, each program or directorate clarifies and reinforces difficult character development concepts taught within that program or directorate.

  • Instructors appropriately integrate character concepts taught in one lesson with concepts in other lessons and from other courses within the major or core program. The Character Thread is one formal effort in this regard, but all instructors are charged with this opportunity, given topics of study-in-depth courses, the ethical component of any discipline, the ethical responsibilities emphasized in a discipline’s accreditation, etc.
  • Faculty, staff, and coaches provide formal or informal opportunities for cadets to reflect on and share experiences that illuminate character concepts already learned in their activity.
  • Capstone and/or Integrative Experience instructors coach their cadets to connect their research to development within the CCD.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

Stewardship

The primary professional responsibility of all faculty, staff, coaches, and cadets is to develop commissioned leaders of character. Character development occurs across all programs and in every environment. While all are expected to set the example as role models who foster a positive environment, every member of the West Point team also has a unique role related to cadet development and stewarding West Point’s culture of character growth.

Primary Roles

The following leaders and groups have a primary role in our shared responsibility to develop and mentor cadets to become commissioned leaders of character.

  • Superintendent: The Superintendent is the senior character development leader and integrator, being ultimately accountable for the development of commissioned leaders of character.
  • The Academic Board (AB): The AB advises the Superintendent and serves as the supervisory and integrative body of the academic, military, and physical programs, all grounded within West
    Point’s culture of character growth.
    • The WPLDS Committee promotes and assesses the effective implementation of WPLDS, in particular the WPLDS outcomes, and makes recommendations on any needed improvements to the AB.
  • The Policy Board (PB): The PB advises the Superintendent on comprehensive and integrated planning, resourcing, implementation, and assessment efforts, which enable effective implementation of the USMA Strategy.
  • The Dean of the Academic Board:
    • Ensures that faculty and staff meet institutional expectations (see the Superintendent’s Letter, Our Mission-Essential Task, and The West Point Team of Character Practitioners).
    • Clearly defines, plans for, and assesses academic program outcomes to ensure that they support the WPLDS outcomes.
    • Ensure that character development activities are appropriately integrated within the academic program and across program boundaries.
    • Ensures that adequate time is allocated on the AB agenda to routinely discuss matters related to character development.
    • Identifies and addresses the impact that any program changes have on other programs and on character development.
    • Ensures that specified programs maintain program accreditation.
    • As part of the annual report process, it updates the Superintendent on character development integration.
  • The Commandant:
    • Ensures that cadets, faculty, and staff meet institutional expectations(see the Superintendent’s Letter, Our Mission-Essential Task, and The West Point Team of Character Practitioners).
    • Clearly defines, plans for, and assesses military and physical program outcomes to ensure that they support the WPLDS outcomes.
    • Oversees the effective implementation and integration of character development throughout the directorate and across program boundaries. This includes oversight of the honor education program.
    • Provides oversight of the Honor System.
    • Identifies and addresses the impact that any program changes have on other programs and on character development.
    • As part of the annual report process, it updates the Superintendent on character development integration.
  • The Athletic Director:

Role of All Members of the West Point Team in Stewardship

Character development at West Point is not confined to a single program or course; rather, it is woven into the fabric of the entire cadet experience. The primary professional responsibility of all members of the West Point Team is to develop leaders of character. While every member has a unique role related to cadet development, all are expected to set the example as role models who foster a positive leader development environment.

A shuttle driver here at West Point challenges the cadets each time he drops them off at Library Corner: “Okay Future Sirs, Future Ma’ams – I need you to do one thing today if you get nothing else done: Find a mirror and remind yourself how awesome you are.” The cadets often smile in relief, having dreaded one further task coming from such a surprising source. This driver was not told by his supervisor to make this comment with each half-hour loop around the post. Nor is it in the driver’s job description. Furthermore, if saying this line to cadets was a directive, it would lose its effectiveness. Instead, this driver has grasped the impactful future of his passengers, as well as their current hardships in preparing for that future. While fulfilling the specific need of transportation, he bolsters it with the general need for a little inspiration, for setting a tone that helps steward the culture so essential to West Point’s mission. The driver provides an example of understanding the purpose of this place and letting it steer his daily work.

This driver also illustrates a key purpose of DLC: it exists to empower the West Point team in living out the charge to grow leaders of character. If you, the reader, are on this team, then you need to provide your own example. It is not enough for you to merely mimic the driver’s words; it would ring just as hollow as if he had been directed to say them. You must find your own way of advancing West Point’s purpose in your own role.

Your unique position enables a unique contribution. Do you really think there is no contribution you can make? Is there no modeling of good character that cadets might catch from you? Is there no insight or standard that you might teach them?

You must discover your own way of advancing and integrating cadet development. Find yourself in the DLC and fulfill your part.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

Continuous Improvement

If we are not improving, we are stagnating. As the world’s preeminent leader development institution that provides the leaders of character that the Army and Nation need, West Point must continuously improve at every level of cadet development.

Continuous improvement begins at the individual level, where faculty and staff provide cadets with feedback on meeting desired outcomes and through numerous methods, e.g., daily feedback given to a cadet by the instructor, cadet chain of command, or Tac Team, and feedback on formal assessments.

An essential part of continuous improvement for every developmental activity is to know what the desired end state is. An end state for cadet development is often referred to as a learning outcome (LO). All development activities at West Point should have a desired end state or LO.

Course, program, and WPLDS outcomes then take advantage of a curriculum map, which shows the activity and outcome relationship; “after examining assessment results, the curriculum map is the first place to look.”25 An effective map also ensures appropriate coverage of development to achieve the LO

When assessing LOs and/or activities, faculty and staff routinely use MOPs and MOEs to identify what works and what does not work during developmental events. MOPs are used to determine if faculty and staff are doing to standard what they say they are doing. MOEs are used to determine if the provided programs and experiences are achieving the desired outcomes. 

Use of USMA’s MOEs is most effective when they are used to assess longitudinally desired outcomes so that cadet development is assessed as it progresses. Assessing learning outcomes can be challenging when the outcomes are broad and intangible. In these cases, it is essential that the activity has a solid theoretic foundation for what, why, and how it is being done. It is also important that the MOPs indicate that the activity is conducted as planned.

Individual assessments in the classrooms or activities lead to assessing a course or activity’s LOs, which then inform the annual assessments of disciplinary majors and core courses, and then of the programs (academic, military, and physical).

Annual program assessment reports inform directorate26 annual reports, which provide assessments on the USMA Strategy’s Lines of Effort.27 The content of directorate annual reports specific to cadet development include:

  • Updates on contributions and assessments to the USMA Strategy and the Superintendent’s Annual Guidance.
  • Assessments of program outcomes.
  • Updates on and assessments of character integration efforts, including the directorate’s contributions to Comprehensive Character Development.

USMA accomplishes its mission when its graduates live honorably, lead honorably, and demonstrate excellence. Thus, at the institution level, there is a systematic assessment of the WPLDS outcomes and processes using multiple internal and external indicators. 

Since all program outcomes are aligned with the WPLDS outcomes, program assessments directly support the assessment of the WPLDS outcomes. Through these assessments, West Point determines if the programs and experiences are achieving the desired outcomes.

Using multiple internal and external indicators, the WPLDS Committee completes the WPLDS Annual Report. This Annual Report is a major component of the overall USMA Annual Report, which is the culmination of the USMA annual assessment process. The USMA Annual Report informs the Superintendent’s Annual Guidance for the upcoming academic year.

Example internal and external indicators used to assess the WPLDS outcomes for the Annual Report include:

  • Academic, military, and physical program assessments
  • Executive summaries of core courses and disciplinary majors
  • Periodic Development Reports (PDRs) and Cadet Observation Reports (CORs)
  • Numerous external (national, DOD, Department of the Army) cadet and faculty surveys
  • Internal surveys and focus groups with cadets, faculty, staff, and coaches.

A more comprehensive description of USMA’s assessment processes is in USMA Regulation MA-19-02, Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness (SPIE) Processes.

Endnotes and definitions of italicized terms can be found in Glossaries and Endnotes by Section.

Glossaries and Endnotes by Section

DLC. Developing Leaders of Character is the definitive document specifying and explaining the processes, procedures, and elements utilized by USMA to develop cadets into commissioned officers of character for the U.S. Army.

LOEs. Lines of Effort are general lines described in the USMA Strategy.

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

Army Values. Loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. The Army Values are the core of the Army Ethic, which includes the set of enduring moral principles, values, beliefs, and laws that guide the Army profession.

Build. USMA prioritizes resources to identify, compete for, and develop the most talented cohort of cadet candidates (typically high school seniors) with the potential to become commissioned leaders of character. These efforts begin with marketing to potential candidates through the application process and finally to R Day. Concurrently, USMA continuously seeks to build the best possible team of faculty, staff, and coaches dedicated to developing cadets and serving as exemplars of good character.

Educate. Education is a structured process to impart and utilize knowledge through teaching and learning to enable or enhance an individual’s ability to perform in unknown situations.28 More specifically, USMA educates cadets so they can think critically, internalize their professional identity, and employ their education to help build the Army and the Nation’s future.

Inspire. Through the professional excellence of its faculty, staff, and coaches, USMA imbues in cadets the passion and commitment to achieve the WPLDS outcomes. The West Point team immerses cadets in the history, traditions, and values of the Army and West Point to inspire their stewardship of the Army profession. And finally, the West Point team inspires cadets through professional mentoring relationships.

Train. Training increases the capability of individuals to perform specified tasks in well-defined situations.29 USMA trains cadets to develop the military, intellectual, and physical skills needed for future warfighting. Training extends beyond military, intellectual, and physical skills to include leadership and character skills, enhancing the ability to attain higher levels of expertise by applying what is learned through educational efforts.

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

3 Different from DLC, the USMA Strategy articulates how USMA can improve in achieving its mission and vision through five LOEs, areas in which USMA seeks to transform, adapt, or improve.

4 West Point consists of all tenant units on the installation: USMA; U.S. Army Garrison; Keller Army Community Hospital; Dental Command; Logistics Readiness Center; and Fort Hamilton.

28Army Regulation (AR) 350-1, Army Training and Leader Development, 10 December 2017, 239.
29Ibid.

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

CLC. Commissioned Leader of Character. In the execution of our mission through WPLDS, USMA defines this leader as a commissioned officer who lives honorably, leads honorably, and demonstrates excellence.

DLC. Developing Leaders of Character is the definitive document specifying and explaining the processes, procedures, and elements utilized by USMA to develop cadets into commissioned officers of character for the U.S. Army.

Reflection. The deliberate, guided, and structured thinking about choices that enables one to make sense of their challenging experiences, applying the feedback they have received, and develop ways to enhance their future performance.

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs which enables Cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd Lieutenants and leaders of character.
 

6 ADP 6-22 Army Leadership and the Profession, 31 July 2019, 1-15.

Cadet Honor Code and System. The Cadet Honor Code states, “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” The Honor System encompasses USMA’s (a) formal honor education, (b) formal processes of reviewing and determining the accountability of cadets accused of violating the code, ensuring due process, and (c) remediation programs for cadets found committing code violations in (b).

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd lieutenants and leaders of character.
 

2 Primary Army references used that articulate the complexity of future warfare and define leader requirements include: ADP 1, The Army, 31 July 2019; TRADOC Pamphlet 525-3-1, The U.S. Army in Multi-Domain Operations 2028, 6 December 2018; ADP 6-22 Army Leadership and the Profession, 31 July 2019; FM 6-22, Developing Leaders, 01 November 2022; ADP 6-0, Mission Command, 31 July 2019; and FM 7-22. Holistic Health and Fitness, 01 October 2020.

5 ADP 6-22 Army Leadership and the Profession, 31 July 2019.

Acceptance Day Ceremony. This event recognizes the completion of Cadet Basic Training (CBT). New cadets are formally welcomed and accepted into the U.S. Military Academy Corps of Cadets and become cadets. At this ceremony, cadets take their first of three oaths to support the U.S. Constitution.

AFT. Army Fitness Test is the six-element assessment for the physical domain of the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness System.

Affirmation Ceremony. This event recognizes each cadet's commitment to the Profession of Arms. Cadets take their second oaths to support the U.S. Constitution. This oath, which occurs the evening before the first academic class of the 2nd class, obligates them to serve in the active Army for a minimum of five years.

Cadet Honor Code and System. The Cadet Honor Code states, “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” The Honor System encompasses USMA’s (a) formal honor education, (b) formal processes of reviewing and determining the accountability of cadets accused of violating the Code, ensuring due process, and (c) remediation programs for cadets found committing Code violations in (b).

CBT. Cadet Basic Training, occurring during the summer before the new cadets’ first academic year, is focused on the new cadets’ socialization and acculturation. CBT uses basic military training to expose new cadets to the institution’s ideals and values to facilitate their transition to USMA and service in the Army.

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

CDR. Cadet Development Reports. To assign a Military Development grade to members of the Corps of Cadets. Similar to the Officer Evaluation Report (OER), the CDR is the primary feedback tool for the chain of command to communicate performance and potential of rated cadets by way of a grade.

Character Thread. The Character Thread is embedded within the academic program. It identifies character connections across academic core courses and enables integration with the Cadet Character Education Program (CCEP), the prevention curriculum, and other character development activities at USMA.

CFT. Cadet Field Training is a three- to four-week program of instruction that third-class cadets go through at Camp Buckner during their second summer.

CLC. Commissioned Leader of Character. In the execution of our mission through WPLDS, USMA defines this leader as a commissioned officer who lives honorably, leads honorably, and demonstrates excellence.

CLDT. Cadet Leader Development Training is a three-week program that trains and assesses basic leadership skills, focusing on troop-leading procedures, effective communication, and tactical decision-making.

Club OIC. Club Officer in Charge refers to a USMA staff or faculty member, civilian or military, who serves as the general supervisor of the cadet club.

CO. Commanding Officer leads a unit larger than a platoon or squad.

COR. The Cadet Observation Report is an online form that can be filled out by any cadet, staff, and faculty member. It is designed to highlight both positive and negative cadet behavior.

CST. Cadet Summer Training is the direct military developmental experience, varied according to class, for cadets, which takes place during the summer at West Point as well as at Army installations throughout the United States.

CTLT. Cadet Troop Leadership Training provides every cadet an opportunity to serve with an active army unit for several weeks. This experience exposes them to life and work in the Army.

IAD. Individual Advanced Development occurs during the summer and provides cadets with an opportunity for in-depth development outside the classroom. IADs are provided for academic, military, physical, and character development.

IOCT. The Indoor Obstacle Course Test is an 11-event test of full-body functional physical fitness administered by the Department of Physical Education (DPE) at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

Inspiration to Serve. The yearling class visits the West Point Cemetery to reflect on examples of West Point graduates who committed themselves to a lifetime of service and sacrifice. This event occurs just before cadets decide to affirm their commitment to the Army profession upon graduation.

Leader Challenge. A forum where cadets conduct platoon-level professional development sessions based on real-world scenarios.

PDR. The Periodic Development Review is a multi-faceted assessment of leader competencies and attributes. Every cadet receives a PDR each semester from a faculty member to assess individual character traits to develop individual cadets.

PSG. A Platoon Sergeant is a cadet who serves a facilitating role in running a cadet platoon.

Ring Weekend. First-class cadets receive their class rings during a Ring Ceremony.

SL. The Cadet Squad Leader has a direct leadership role over a small number of cadets during Summer military training.

Sponsors. This is a voluntary program in which senior military or civilian employees volunteer to sponsor cadets during their time at USMA. Sponsors provide cadets with support, guidance, and a view of military life.

Tactical NCO. Tactical Non-Commissioned Officer

Team CPT. Team Captain is a cadet who is in charge of an athletics or military unit.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd lieutenants and leaders of character.

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

CLC. Commissioned Leader of Character. In the execution of our mission through WPLDS, USMA defines this leader as a commissioned officer who lives honorably, leads honorably, and demonstrates excellence.

DLGM. The Deliberate Leader Growth Model demonstrates the interrelationships between factors and timeframes utilized by USMA for cadet experiences, which combined, establish a culture in which character development occurs.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd lieutenants and leaders of character.
 

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13Locke, E.A., & Latham, G.P. (2002). Building a practically useful theory of goal setting and task motivation: A 35-year odyssey. American Psychologist, 57(9), 705–717.

14Oettingen, G., & Gollwitzer, P.M. (2010). Strategies of setting and implementing goals: Mental contrasting and implementation intentions. In J.E. Maddux & J.P. Tangney (Eds.), Social psychological foundations of clinical psychology (pp. 114–135). The Guilford Press.

Cadet Honor Code and System. The Cadet Honor Code states that, “A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” The Honor System encompasses USMA’s (a) formal Honor education, (b) formal processes of reviewing and determining the accountability of Cadets accused of violating the Code, ensuring due process, and (c) remediation programs for Cadets found of committing Code violations in (b).

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

Directorate. USMA’s directorates are Dean; United States Corps of Cadets; Admissions; Army Athletic Association; Band; and the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd Lieutenants and leaders of character.

16Arthur, J., Kristjánsson , K., Thompson, A., & Fazel, A. (2023). The Jubilee Centre Framework For Virtue-Based Professional Ethics, The Jubilee Center For Character & Virtues.

17USMA Strategy 2024.

Cadet Honor Code and System. The Cadet Honor Code states that, “A Cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” The Honor System encompasses USMA’s (a) formal honor education, (b) formal processes of reviewing and determining the accountability of cadets accused of violating the Code, ensuring due process, and (c) remediation programs for Cadets found committing Code violations in (b).

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for Cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

Character Education Terms

The Character Education Component provides a basic framework for comprehensive character development (CCD), but it does not provide definitions of the virtues that are listed here.

Virtues: Each virtue in these five domains is a disposition to enact the behavior described. The disposition includes the awareness to recognize and attend to situations that call for that virtue, appropriate emotions that motivate and flow from enacting the virtue, and a good sense of how to perform the virtue in different contexts. Army Values become virtues when an individual internalizes the value and consistently demonstrates it with their actions, behaviors, words, and attitudes.

  1. Higher-order Virtues: Character traits that help determine appropriate virtues for specific circumstances and how to combine them well.
    1. Judgment: Judgment is the foremost meta-virtue that integrates and applies all the virtues to a particular situation. Officers are required to demonstrate good judgment in all situations.
    2. Honor: Upholding the ethical standards as defined by West Point, the Army Profession and Ethic. Adherence to the virtues in these five domains makes a person honorable within the Army profession.
    3. Integrity: Applicable to all people, integrity is exhibiting consistency between personal values and actual behaviors.
  2. Moral Virtues: Character traits that respect the humanity of ourselves and others.
    1. Respect: Responding affirmatively to others’ human dignity, legitimate authority, or demonstrated excellence.
    2. Honesty: Being truthful, authentic, and sincere.
    3. Empathy: Ability to identify with and enter into another person’s feelings and emotions; propensity to experience something from another person’s point of view.
    4. Kindness: Acting thoughtfully and pleasantly to benefit others.
    5. Gratitude: Feeling and expressing thankfulness for some gift or benefit.
    6. Humility: Accurately judging your own abilities, limitations, and contributions to achievements.
  3. Civic Virtues: Character traits that serve the common good.
    1. Justice: Treating others fairly, giving them what they deserve.
    2. Civility: Interacting with others with tolerance, respect, and politeness.
    3. Loyalty: Feeling an internal obligation to support a person, group, or principle.
    4. Stewardship: Preserving things of value for future generations.
    5. Responsibility: Willingness to be held accountable for one’s conduct and performance.
    6. Selfless Service: Prioritizing team goals and others’ welfare ahead of your self-interest.
  4. Intellectual Virtues: Character traits that enhance thinking, learning, & decision-making.
    1. Curiosity: Proactively seeking new information and explanations.
    2. Creativity: Producing original ideas or behaviors.
    3. Perspective: Seeing systems as a whole and from different viewpoints.
    4. Prudence: Examining the potential consequences of your actions.
    5. Critical Thinking: Analyzing information objectively.
    6. Love of Learning: Readily seeking and mastering frequently new knowledge and skills.
  5. Performance Virtues: Character traits that enable challenging goals to be accomplished.
    1. Discipline: Regulating your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors for a goal.
    2. Confidence: Believing that you can accomplish a goal.
    3. Composure: Maintaining emotional calmness and presence of mind.
    4. Perseverance: Continuing your efforts despite difficulties or discouragement.
    5. Resilience: Adapting to adversity and recovering quickly from hardships or failures.
    6. Grit: Demonstrating passion and perseverance toward long-term goals.
  6. Martial Virtues: Character traits that must be exceptionally well-developed in the profession of arms.
    1. Duty: Fulfilling your obligations and responsibilities.
    2. Candor: Speaking forthrightly and honestly.
    3. Courage: Overcoming fear to do what is right.
    4. Patriotism: Loving your country and its ideals.
    5. Obedience: Assenting to legitimate authority without undue hesitation or resistance.
    6. Initiative: Acting to support an intent without being told.
    7. Sacrifice: Willingly accepting hardship, suffering, and even death for the greater good.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd Lieutenants and leaders of character.
 

18USMA Regulation 15-1 The Cadet Honor Code, the Honor System, and the Honor Community, 6 November 2024.

19Arthur, J., Kristjánsson , K., Thompson, A., & Fazel, A. (2023). The Jubilee Centre Framework For Virtue-Based Professional Ethics, The Jubilee Center For Character & Virtues.

20ADP 6-22 Army Leadership and the Profession, 31 July 2019.

21 Ibid.

22 FM 7-22 Holistic Health and Fitness, 1 October 2020.

23 Ibid.

AB. Academic Board.

CBT. Cadet Basic Training, occurring during the summer before the new cadet's first academic year, is focused on the new cadet's socialization and acculturation. CBT uses basic military training to expose new cadets to the institution’s ideals and values to facilitate their transition to USMA and service in the Army.

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

CCEP. Cadet Character Education Program is a collaborative effort between the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic and Brigade Tactical Department to provide basic character education focusing on the Army Values, leadership skills, and holistic health and fitness. CCEP is provided for all four classes and usually occurs during Commandant’s Hours.

CFT. Cadet Field Training is a three- to four-week program of instruction third-class cadets go through at Camp Buckner during their second summer.

Character Thread. The Character Thread is embedded within the academic program. It identifies character connections across academic core courses and enables integration with the Cadet Character Education Program (CCEP), the prevention curriculum, and other character development activities at USMA.

CLDT. Cadet Leader Development Training is a three-week program that trains and assesses basic leadership skills focusing on Troop Leading Procedures, effective communication, and tactical decision making.

Directorate. USMA’s directorates are Dean; United States Corps of Cadets; Admissions; Army Athletic Association; Band; and the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.

Inspiration to Serve. The yearling class visits the West Point Cemetery to reflect on examples of West Point graduates who committed themselves to a lifetime of service and sacrifice. This event occurs just before cadets decide to affirm their commitment to the Army profession upon graduation.

Leader Challenge. A forum where cadets conduct platoon-level professional development sessions based on real-world scenarios.

MOEs. Measures of Effectiveness are indicators of how well outcomes, goals, or objectives have been reached.

MOPs. Measures of Performance are indicators of the amount and quality of activities taken to achieve stated outcomes, goals, or objectives.

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd lieutenants and leaders of character.

AB. Academic Board.

Cadet Honor Code and System. The Cadet Honor Code states, “A cadet will not lie, cheat, steal, or tolerate those who do.” The Honor System encompasses USMA’s (a) formal honor education, (b) formal processes of reviewing and determining the accountability of cadets accused of violating the Code, ensuring due process, and (c) remediation programs for Cadets found committing Code violations in (b).

PB. Policy Board

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

CFT. Cadet Field Training is a three- to four-week program of instruction that third-class cadets go through at Camp Buckner during their second summer.

Directorate. USMA’s directorates are Dean; United States Corps of Cadets; Admissions; Army Athletic Association; Band; and the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces Bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd lieutenants and leaders of character.

CCD. Comprehensive Character Development is the set of cadet developmental experiences that create the capacity for cadets to demonstrate trustworthy character.

COR. The Cadet Observation Report is an online form that can be filled out by any cadet, staff, and faculty member and is designed to highlight both positive and negative cadet behavior.

Directorate. USMA’s directorates are Dean; United States Corps of Cadets; Admissions; Army Athletic Association; Band; and the U.S. Military Academy Preparatory School.

LO. A Learning Outcome is a statement of what a cadet should be able to do or know because of engagement in a particular educational or developmental experience.

MOEs. Measures of Effectiveness are indicators of how well outcomes, goals, or objectives have been reached.

MOPs. Measures of Performance are indicators of the amount and quality of activities taken to achieve stated outcomes, goals, or objectives.

PDR. The Periodic Development Review is a multi-faceted assessment of leader competencies and attributes. Every cadet receives a PDR each semester from a faculty member to assess individual character traits to develop individual cadets.

SPIE. Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness [unknown—SJC]

USMA. The United States Military Academy at West Point is an undergraduate institution of higher learning that produces Bachelor’s degree-holding 2nd lieutenants for active-duty service in the U.S. Army.

WPLDS. The West Point Leader Development System is the integrated mechanism of USMA’s academic, military, and physical developmental programs, which enables cadets to graduate as commissioned 2nd Lieutenants and leaders of character.

25Fulcher, K.H, Good, M.R., & Sanchez, E.R.H. (2024). Assessment 101 in higher education: The fundamentals and how to apply them. Taylor & Francis.

26USMA’s directorates are: Dean; United States Corps of Cadets; Admissions; Army Athletic Association; Band; and the U.S. Military Preparatory School.

27The required content of the directorate reports, which are presented annually to the Superintendent, is codified in USMA Regulation MA-19-02 Strategic Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Processes, 1 May 2019.

Download the DLC

Developing Leaders of Character (DLC) empowers the West Point team to develop commissioned leaders of character. To download a PDF version of the DLC or other institutional documents, visit the Office of the Superintendent's page.

SCPME

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.

Academy Leadership

The United States Military Academy (USMA) is led by a team of military and civilian professionals dedicated to sustaining a winning culture and developing leaders of character.