|
One of the major difference between USMA's and USNA's view on honor is:
At USMA, if you know that someone committed an honor offense and you don't report it, you are just as guilty. In other words, the person who did not report the offense has also committed an honor violation.
At USNA, if you know that someone committed an honor offense and you don't report it, it is a conduct offense, not an honor offense.
I can't speak for USMA on this, but at USNA, honor offenses, depending on the seriousness and aggravation of the infraction, is handled at the lowest level. For example, as a 2/C we noted that two of our squad's plebes had signed the initials for a 1/C comearound, when it did not really occur (i.e. they lied about having a discussion period with a 1/C about the week's professional topic). Instead of sending the plebe to a Brigade Honor Board, it was handled at the company level.
Why is this good? It empowers the company and individual MIDN to uphold honor and it allows for a second chance. It also allows the reporting of an honor offense (i.e. MIDN will feel more comfortable coming forward). One of the hardest things to do is report a classmate for an honor offense, knowing that they might be separated.
|