Developing Trustworthy Commissioned Officers: Transcending the Honor Codes and Concept
Abstract
Our nation's three primary means of providing the Armed Forces with commissioned officers are: Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), Officer Candidate Schools (OCS), and the Federal Service Academies. Each of these sources are duty bound to commission leaders of character, entrusted with leading America's Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen. The importance of commissioning leaders of character is uncontested, even axiomatic; but what is required and expected of a leader of character can be a source of debate. Our aim is to clarify what it means to be a leader of character and to recommend a holistic approach to developing such leaders in each of our sources of commission (SOC). To begin, it is essential to define and understand character. Next, we must determine a theoretical or empirical method by which character may be developed. Third, tangible activities within the developmental programs at each SOC must be designed and implemented, accordingly. Finally, we must gain consensus on what are expected as observable, measureable outcomes attributable to the developmental process.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Accession Number
- ADA573152
Entities
People
- David B. Cushen
- Joseph P. Doty
- Patrick A. Toffler