US Air Force Academy's Cutting-Edge Character Development Program

摘要

Integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do are lofty aspirations that represent our Air Force core values. In essence, our core values represent the fundamental building blocks of personal character. While few, if any, Air Force members would argue against the worth of these values, many might suggest that internalizing such guiding principles is not something that can be taught or trained. Because the leaders at the U.S. Air Force Academy believe that character can be taught and developed, they established the academy's Center for Character Development. The challenge for the academy was to determine which behaviors consistent with a person of character also embody the core values espoused by the Air Force. A team of officers -- specialists in human development -- researched this question and arrived at eight specific 'character outcomes' based on measurable, definable behaviors. The outcomes reflect the team's efforts to articulate the academy's expectations of its officer graduates. The team concluded that the outcomes reflect the academy's ideals -- what it hopes cadets and members of the academy community strive to do and to be. The outcomes are as follows: (1) Officers with forthright integrity who voluntarily decide the right thing to do and do it; (2) Officers who are selfless in service to their country, the Air Force, and their subordinates; (3) Officers who are committed to excellence in the performance of their personal and professional responsibilities; (4) Officers who respect the dignity of all human beings; (5) Officers who are decisive, even when they face high risk; (6) Officers who take full responsibility for their decisions; (7) Officers with the self-discipline, stamina, and courage to do their duty well under even the most extreme and prolonged conditions of national defense; and (8) Officers who understand the importance of spiritual values and beliefs to their own character development and that of the community.