The_Bond_HONOR

A series that addresses the Brigade Honor Concept at the United States Naval Academy

“Character development is an ongoing process and midshipmen must make the choice to live honorably each day and earn the trust that comes with a commission in the Navy or Marine Corps."

Vice Admiral Sean Buck, Superintendent, United States Naval Academy

The Naval Academy’s Honor Concept is a guiding light for how Midshipmen should conduct themselves. It is a personal moral compass embraced by the Brigade as essential ideals that set the foundation to living honorably as both a Midshipman and officer in the Navy and Marine Corps. The Honor Concept formalizes the requirement for Midshipmen to demonstrate integrity while refusing to lie, cheat or steal. It simply expects midshipmen to "stand for that which is right".

The Naval Academy has an "Honor Concept" because Midshipmen embrace the challenge of owning the moral standard and helping their peers act as persons of integrity. There is no toleration clause as there would be in an "Honor Code". This is purposeful because the onus for change is not with the Honor Concept, but the responsibility lies with the Brigade of Midshipmen to live up to its principles.

Midshipmen are persons of integrity: They stand for that which is right.

They tell the truth and ensure the truth is known. They do not lie.

They embrace fairness in all actions. They ensure that work submitted as their own is their own, and that assistance received from any source is authorized and properly documented. They do not cheat.

They respect the property of others and ensure that others are able to benefit from the use of their own property. They do not steal.

This six-part series is for and by Midshipmen. It is a tool to better understand the principles of the Honor Concept of the Brigade of Midshipmen.

For best results, it should be listened to sequentially, and then discussed with Companymates, Classmates, and interested friends.

Episode 006

Honor, Ethics, and Integrity

CAPT Roger Herbert, USN (ret.)

Duration: 9:35

CAPT Herbert, USN (ret.) was a Distinguished Military Professor of Ethics, and the NE203 Course Director (Ethics and Moral Reasoning for the Naval Leader). We discuss, can a person be an ethical person and be honorable at the same time? How does integrity fit in with ethical behavior and being honorable? We ask, is there honor among thieves?

Episode 005

The Fleet Connection

CDR Andrew Ledford

Duration: 10:15

CDR Ledford is the Chair of Leadership, Ethics, and Law. In this episode, he discusses the status of Midshipmen in the naval tradition. There's the importance of the concept of "profession", and a Midshipman's place within that profession. What's the significance of the "Khaki" uniform, and its link to the Brigade Honor Concept and the Professional Naval Officer? Finally, we emphasize that...

Episode 004

Remediation and Coaching

CAPT Rick Rubel, USN (ret.)

Duration: 14:31

CAPT Rick Rubel, USN, (ret.) was the officer tasked to develop the Honor Remediation Process at the Naval Academy. In this episode, we discuss the honor remediation program and processes. Why do we have remediation, and how does this fit the moral development program for Midshipmen? What are the keys to success and factors of failure? Finally we discuss how do we prevent this from becoming a...

Episode 003

The Honor Process

CDR Jana Vavasseur

Duration: 9:13

CDR Jana Vavaseur is the Brigade Honor Officer. We discuss the mission of the Naval Academy and we understand where Honor fits into it's goal "To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically". Basically, how does the Honor Program add to that mission? What are the facts and some of the numbers related to honor, and honor violations? We discuss do we recruit honorable high school...

Episode 002

Honor and Authenticity

MIDN 1/C Jackie Booker

Duration: 8:42

MIDN Booker is the AC Y22 (Academic Year) Fall Brigade Commander. We discuss how honor relates to leadership. How does authenticity relate to honor, and is honor natural or is it something that can be developed? And if so, how do you "develop" honor? If honor/trust is lost, can it ever be restored again? And finally, what honor means to MIDN Booker.

Episode 001

The Brigade Honor Concept

MIDN 1/C Teresa Collins

Duration: 7:31

MIDN Collins is the Brigade Honor Advisor. We discuss how the Brigade Honor Program is midshipmen run, and the roles and responsibilities of Brigade Honor team. This involves the honor advisory staff, the honor investigations team, and the honor congress. She details the significance of the Honor Concept relative to an Honor Code. We then discuss what happens when someone is "put in the...