Virtue development at Army and Navy Academy
The Academy’s mission is to forge virtuous young men for life. Our 2026-2027 Cadet Guidebook connects that mission to six values that guide decisions, actions, and community life.
- Honor: honesty and accountability.
- Integrity: doing what is right, including when no one is watching.
- Respect: recognizing individual differences and the dignity of others.
- Commitment: reliability in meeting responsibilities.
- Courage: facing difficult moral, mental, or physical challenges.
- Gratitude: appreciating what others contribute to our lives and community.
From principles to practice
Cadets encounter these expectations in concrete situations: preparing for class, respecting another person’s property, taking responsibility for assigned work, and contributing to shared living spaces. Academic integrity expectations apply to independent work and the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Leadership Education and Training connects instruction with participation and accountability. The Guidebook describes assessment through coursework and areas such as room and uniform standards, formations, parades, and citizenship. Those measures document parts of cadet participation; they should not be presented as a complete scientific measure of a young person’s virtue.
Adults guide the learning process
Teachers, counselors, and TAC Officers have defined roles in supporting cadets. Families can ask how adults explain expectations, respond to mistakes, and help a student understand what to do differently.
Request Information about the Academy’s approach, or Apply Now.