Leadership Lessons from the United States Military Academy

West Point, formally known as the United States Military Academy (USMA) has been developing, motivating, and inspiring leaders of character for America for over 200 years.

The USMA is admired internationally for its academic, military, patriotic, and fitness programs. These are all built on the pillars of character, ethics, integrity, and leadership.

The West Point Mission is “To educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country, and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.”

This mission statement is complimented by the Cadet Honor Code which states: "A Cadet will not lie, cheat or steal, nor tolerate those who do."

West Point Cadets: A Day to Remember

Although privileged to conduct numerous presentations for the United States Military Academy over the past twelve years, the following event has special significance.

On Thursday, April 14, 2016 I delivered the opening presentation for the Jersey City Police Department (JCPD) for West Point Cadets visiting Jersey City.

Their visit honored the principles of community policing, patriotism, and leadership through a unique program titled “Winning the Peace.” This program is a collaboration of the USMA, JCPD, government leaders, faith-based communities, and corporate partners.

The initiative started twelve years ago and has included presentations as well as cadet visits to historic landmark’s, Egyptian churches, various mosques and Islamic centers, Jewish synagogues, Mormon communities, and corporate facilities.

During my presentation titled “West Point Cadets: Honor, Leadership, America,” I thanked the cadets for their dedication to America. I also encouraged them in their commitment of developing deep-rooted values of character, ethics, and leadership.

This presentation honestly assessed critical issues facing America today and emphasized that ethical principles inspired by our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and the West Point legacy are principles needed to transform the nation.

My agenda used a metaphor of a catastrophic head-on collision with two trains traveling at high speed. I used this metaphor with accompanying images to illuminate America’s crisis of character and its culture of violence.

America’s shattered communities, demonstrated through deteriorated families, substance abuse, and the gang culture, resulting in violence, prison, and death, were also depicted with my slide presentation.

After honestly addressing these issues, solutions were presented that included cultivating altruism, visionary leadership principles, a call to action, and the importance of always honoring America’s military sacrifices.

The visionary leadership portion of my presentation included these principles:

• Leadership must be grounded in moral self-confidence developed by understanding through study, hard work, and education
• Leadership must accept the diversity and talents of the team and forge partnerships, cohesion, and significance to a cause
• Leadership is aware of the efficacy of truth and the destructiveness of dishonesty
• Leadership opposes the immorality of injustice
• Leadership understands that there is no persuasion without credibility
• Leadership responds to the needs of the community with humility, appreciation, and selflessness
• Leadership overcomes every hardship, handicap, and challenge to achieve its goals

After my presentation, the JCPD escorted all attendees into the heart of American history with a tour of Ellis Island. This was followed by our visit to Empty Sky, the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial in Liberty State Park, Jersey City.

West Point: A History of Character Initiatives

This “Winning the Peace” program complemented 12 years of various initiatives I have had with the USMA.

These included three years of participation as a speaker, mentor, and senior leader for the National Conference on Ethics in America at the USMA.

Other initiatives included my speaking engagements with Lt. General Robert L. Caslen Jr., superintendent of the USMA. These involved our presentations for an FBI Newark Field Office management retreat, and also for an FBI New York Field Office leadership program.

Lt. General Caslen also kindly accepted by invitation to speak with me and other colleagues at “The Inaugural New Jersey Conference: Character, Ethics, Leadership.” This was a filled to capacity conference for over 250 law enforcement officials hosted by The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey on May 12, 2014.

Both these events encouraged ethical leadership for FBI management and law enforcement as highlighted by Lt. General Caslen. They are deserving of reflection, as their principles are vital not only to our military, but to law enforcement, and to all in society who appreciate the qualities of character:

• Honor — adherence to the highest standards of integrity
• Respect — treating people with dignity
• Servant Leadership — putting others before ourselves
• Integrity — doing what is morally and ethically right even when no one is watching

West Point’s Leader Development System

Since the intention of this article is not only to honor the ideals of our military, but to inspire American law enforcement, a commentary on West Point’s leadership development deserves attention.

The USMA utilizes the West Point Leader Development System (WPLDS) to accomplish their mission of developing leaders of character.
Character is also critical to American law enforcement, and therefore there is an indefatigable connection of the army ethic and the ideals of

“Duty, Honor, and Country” with law enforcement’s sacrosanct oath to protect and serve.
For both the USMA, and law enforcement, principles that contribute to the moral, civic, social, and leadership facets of character are in my opinion, inseparable.

The facets of the WPLDS offer an inspirational moral compass to the ethical protectors of law enforcement. These facets are essential not only to the ideals of our military, but to law enforcement and are as follows:

Facets of the West Point Leader Development System

1. Moral: Internalization of the Army Values that results in the knowledge, integrity, and awareness to assess the moral-ethical aspects of every situation and the personal courage to take appropriate action regardless of consequences.
2. Civic: Demonstrates the empathy, loyalty, respect, and humility that enable an individual to treat others with dignity and to display selflessness.
3. Social: Acts with proper decorum in all professional, social, and online environments.
4. Performance: Possesses the sense of duty, resilience, and grit necessary to accomplish the mission and get results.
5. Leadership: Establishes a safe, positive command climate where everyone thrives while achieving results.

Army Football: Field of Character

On Friday, August 30, 2019, I visited the USMA to attend the first Army football game of the season.

An Army football game is unparalleled to any American athletic experience. To begin, there is the inspirational Cadet Review and Parade on the plain.

This event is one of the honored traditions of an Army West Point home game. It features a full-dress parade of thousands of impeccable uniformed cadets, a paratrooper demonstration from army helicopters, and on this day, the U.S. Army Airborne Choir singing patriotic songs for enthralled spectators.

Following the review and parade is the football game, which also includes paratroopers jumping from helicopters, patriotic music, thousands of exuberant cadets, and the loyal Army football fans.

It’s exciting and fun, but important to remember that every Army player on the field is a cadet formed by character. They understand that competition on the field is an honor, but the bedrock of all their activities, including football, is always character.

Final Reflections

A day with the West Point Cadets was truly inspirational as these outstanding young men and women represent America’s ethical values. Their dedication to character, visionary leadership, and patriotism makes one proud of America and gives great hope for our future.

Note Well:

This article was published in The Chief of Police magazine, Fall 2019, and distributed to police chiefs and law enforcement nationwide. It is one of my 44 published articles for the magazine over the course of the last 10 years, including 14 cover stories.

Photos

1. U.S. Army Major Ryan Boeka (L) and U.S. Army Major Aaron Miller (R) lead West Point Cadets through Empty Sky, the New Jersey 9/11 Memorial, in Liberty State Park, Jersey City, on April 14, 2016. (Vincent J. Bove)
2. West Point Honor Code monument, USMA. (Vincent J. Bove)
3. General Dwight D. Eisenhower monument, USMA, Oct. 20, 2008. (Vincent J. Bove)
4. Army Football team time-out, Aug. 30, 2019, USMA. (Vincent J. Bove)
5. Army MP’s on post, Army Football game, Aug. 30, 2019. (Vincent J. Bove)

Honoring 9/11: Compassion, Character, Community

As one travels throughout American communities, we are reminded of the tragic loss of life on 9/11 through plaques, monuments, and memorials.

These tributes are set in bronze, marble, and stone throughout our train stations, shopping malls, workplaces, and community centers.

They are sacramental reminders of lives gone too soon, whose memories must be eternally engraved into our hearts and souls.

America will perpetually honor those who perished on 9/11, and we must be passionately dedicated to transforming our nation, as a fitting tribute to their memory.

Eternal Remembrance

America will pause again on Patriot Day, Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 to reverently observe the sixteenth anniversary of 9/11.

This sacrosanct anniversary reminds us of a day that changed the soul of America forever.

It is a day to honor the fallen, their loved ones, and all the heroes who served and protected, and who continue to serve our nation.

The lost lives of our beloved families, friends, community members, and colleagues will not be in vain.

These victims from the World Trade Center, Flight 11, Flight 175, Flight 77, Flight 93, and the Pentagon will continue to keep the eternal flame of patriotism alive in our hearts.

America will be stronger and renewed through the fire of devotion burning in our hearts, homes, communities, workplaces, schools, churches, synagogues, and mosques.

In each of these places, America will pray for the repose of the souls of all who were lost on 9/11, and we will stand tall to honor our nation.

As we solemnly honor the nearly 3,000 lives lost on that fateful day, let us remain vigilant with protecting our communities and strengthening our homeland. Our vigilance is a tribute to all who perished, so their lives may not be in vain.

Honoring 9/11 Heroes

Each 9/11 commemoration is a time to pause and honor countless heroes who protected others and served victims through inestimable acts of selflessness, compassion, and mercy.

These heroes, all who are known by the eyes of heaven, will certainly be rewarded there by their sacrifices, as they represent the heart of America. Those who served on 9/11 and afterwards with acts of kindness, sacrifice, and generosity represent the best of all of us.

Our nation will forever honor all who perished on 9/11, and all who served, as well as those who continue to serve including our military. Those tirelessly dedicated to serving our communities, colleagues, and country deserve our greatest respect.

Honoring the 9/11 fallen, we must dedicate ourselves to peace in communities across America.

Our efforts must be practical with developing violence prevention initiatives especially through enhancing police-community collaboration.

Yet, our efforts must also be profoundly spiritual, worshiping as community, and praying from our hearts.

We must stand above the anguish of hearts broken by violence, and fill our lives with deeds of faith, hope, and charity.

Each person lost on 9/11 was a life gone too soon.

The 9/11 fallen includes over 400 emergency workers who were killed on the day of the attack.

These heroes include the following:

• 343 firefighters (including a chaplain and two paramedics) representing the New York City Fire Department (FDNY)
• 37 police officers of the Port Authority Police Department (PAPD)
• 23 police officers of New York City Police Department (NYPD)
• 8 emergency medical technicians and paramedics

Although 9/11 changed our mindset with security, one thing will remain forever, our esteem for all who protect and serve, especially those who have offered the ultimate sacrifice in serving others.

One of these first responder's was a Franciscan priest, Father Mychal F. Judge, killed by fallen debris while ministering to a fallen firefighter.

Father Judge, from St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street in Manhattan, was a chaplain for the FDNY.

A photo of Father Judge, being carried away from the rubble on 9/11 by firefighters, police officers, and first responders, remains one of the tragedies most iconic photos.

Final Reflections

During the solemn remembrances of 9/11 in communities, workplaces, houses of worship, and schools throughout America, let us cling to hope as we honor the fallen.

America must have hope and continue to stand tall as a nation of character, compassion, and courage.

These virtues represent the heart of America, and will lead us to our rightful destiny as a light of goodness for the world.

Photos

1. Plaque honoring 9/11 victims from Short Hills, NJ at town's train station, Sept. 11, 2017. (Vincent J. Bove)

2. FDNY honoring the 343 fallen New York City Firefighters during the Veterans Day Parade on Nov. 12, 2011. The event commemorated the 10th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11, 2011. (Vincent J. Bove)