The Citadel experience transforms cadets into Principled Leaders who demonstrate excellent character at all times. The Five C’s of Character Development facilitates this transformation and provides a “roadmap” to future success and honor. Cadets must dedicate themselves to the lifelong pursuit of excellent character, in keeping with generations of Citadel cadets and alumni that comprise the Long Gray Line.
FIVE C’s OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
1. CODE: Cadets must respect and obey the Honor Code. The Honor Code promotes the virtues of honesty, truthfulness, fairness, justice, respect, and accountability. Your dedication to attain these virtues is foundational to the development of excellent character. The Honor Code is the minimum standard of honorable behavior.
2. COMPASS: Cadets must be guided by a strong moral compass. A moral compass exists in your mind and conscience; it helps you make ethically sound decisions and avoid destructive vices and influences that lead you astray. Your moral compass is influenced by family, faith, ethics, philosophy, culture, laws, rules, traditions, and life experiences; it helps you know right versus wrong. Your moral compass must be re-calibrated from time-to-time by trusted mentors & honest self-reflection.
3. COURAGE: Cadets must demonstrate moral courage. Moral courage is finding the strength to stand up for what is right when you are pressured to do the wrong thing, back down, or look the other way. Moral courage empowers you do the right thing when you are faced with possible rejection, ostracization, personal loss, or conflict.
4. CONDUCT: Cadets must demonstrate conduct guided by moral principles, virtues, and self-control. Honorable conduct is more than following rules; it is willfully practicing ‘The Golden Rule’ with selflessness, humility, kindness, empathy, civility, patience and forgiveness. Honorable conduct is a choice motivated by a sincere desire to be good; it cannot be motivated by self-interest, threats, or rewards.
5. CONSISTENCY: Cadets must exhibit character defined by consistency across all C’s. That means you do not turn your honor off-and-on based on circumstances; your core values do not change; you are the same person in public and private; and you routinely think and act in ways worthy of admiration and emulation. Consistency of character requires discipline, dedication, and practice until it becomes second nature. Consistency strengthens your personal integrity.