West Point Reading

HHS2011

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I have a question about a book I received in the mail from West Point this past week. Now I am an admitted candidate to West Point and will be leaving this summer for BCT. I was just wondering if anyone else has received this book in the mail from West Point? It's called In Search of Ethics by Len Marrella. And also it it required that we read this book before we report for R-Day?

Any input would be great. Thanks!!
 
I received the book in the mail too. I haven't heard anything about whether it is required to read or not, but I'm assuming that we should read it since West Point was the one who sent it to us.

It should be a good book, Len Marella is a WP grad, and he served over 20yrs in the service.
 
I don't know why everyone has been posting "BCT" but it's CBT lol. Not trying to be rude, but BCT is not West Point terminology and we're a month away from reporting.

I would definitely read the book since West Point spent the money purchasing them and shipping them to candidates. Not particularly excited about reading a book on ethics, but I'll just get used to reading books I'm assigned by USMA.
 
It is not required reading. You don't have to bring it with you, either. It is good reading; however, and I definitely recommend it.

Plus, you might as well read it, because you paid $12.48 for it :wink:
 
Not particularly excited about reading a book on ethics...

I am really saddened to see you say that. One of the things I've thought about on a regular basis over the last several years is a lack of ethics I see evident in some portions of the military hierarchy. I'll point a finger specifically at the inordinate number of naval commanders who have been relieved over the last several years due to matters of personal misconduct.

As a college senior I happily signed up for the ethics section being taught by the president of my university. My friends were aghast given his reputation as being a tough taskmaster, but I found my experience in the class to be one of the most valuable contributions to my education. I was appalled some years later to have a young person ask me "What is ethics?"

From my perspective it's a topic that our military leaders of the future need a proper grounding in. I'm more than happy to see WP starting you out early.
 
I'm sorry to disappoint you by saying that, sir. Normally I would not mind reading a book West Point recommends; however, I'm currently trying to read a few books I did not have a chance to read during my senior year (including a book on leadership written by an Army Ranger). To be honest, the Ethics book cover does not look too interesting; I guess the phrase "you can't judge a book by its cover" applies to this.

I will try to exhibit a desire to learn about maintaining good ethical practice.
 
I'll be happy to see you including it in your preparations.

FYI, you've got a Ma'm here, unless we decide to go the way of Battlestar Galactica regarding military courtesies, LOL. Which now that I think about it was what we did do on the YPs when I was at OCS.
 
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Oh I'm really sorry ma'am! I should not have assumed you were a sir. I will not be doing that again lol.
 
Three years ago when my son received this book, it was required reading. Cadets were told to bring it to CBT with them. Look at the cost of the book. Look at the cost of the postage. Multiply that by about 1000....I'm pretty sure their intention is for you to read this book. :wink:
 
Oh I'm really sorry ma'am! I should not have assumed you were a sir. I will not be doing that again lol.

No problem. You had no way to know and statistically you made the right call. I guess it's on par with everyone assuming I was a nurse when I was first commissioned. Which speaks volumes about how far we have gone.
 
No problem. You had no way to know and statistically you made the right call. I guess it's on par with everyone assuming I was a nurse when I was first commissioned. Which speaks volumes about how far we have gone.

My wife is an ER physician. As part of their duties, they rotate through the VA hospital on the med complex. She's frequently asked:

A) when will the doctor be here.
B) how long have you been a nurse
C) they have lady doctors here now? (frequently from WWII vets)

You'd think that since her scrubs say "Dr. Firstname Lastname" on them, people might not assume.
 
My wife is an ER physician. As part of their duties, they rotate through the VA hospital on the med complex. She's frequently asked:

A) when will the doctor be here.
B) how long have you been a nurse
C) they have lady doctors here now? (frequently from WWII vets)

You'd think that since her scrubs say "Dr. Firstname Lastname" on them, people might not assume.

I get most of my care at one of the VA hospitals. It is very thought provoking to realize what your wife experiences is still the case. I suppose now we are still one generation away from seeing a significant change in that situation.

The whole situation has me thinking on how things were when I was first commissioned. There were so many fields that were closed to me because of my gender. I was in the first Intel Officer class that had more women than men. They told the three guys "you're all going to the America, we'll figure out what squadrons later."

Then they turned around to the 11 women and tried to figure out what to do with those of us there were no VP billets for. I'm trying to remember for certain, but at the time it was either two or four of the then, IIRC, 24 operational squadrons that even were authorized. I ended up going to one of them for my second tour, and still being limited on the things I could do re operational missions.

Of course now we've set this thread off on a tangent of the original topic. :biggrin:
 
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When I was at WP this past summer for SLS I took a course on Leadership and Ethics led by Len Marrella himself. I received a copy of the same book then (and just got the same copy in the mail). I do not believe that it is required reading but the fact that every Appointee has been mailed a copy and Len Marrella is the head (I believe) of the Ethics and Development Department at WP, is enough to make me read it again.
Just my thoughts...
 
@ beastly

I recommend reading "In Search of Ethics". I started it and it's a very insightful and stimulating book.
 
I haven't recieved the book yet, but did it come with any sort of cover letter saying what it was for?
 
I haven't recieved the book yet, but did it come with any sort of cover letter saying what it was for?

The letter that came with it did not even acknowledge the book's existence. But yes, there was a letter about the honor code and a 'Parent's Almanac' as well in the envelope with the book.
 
I know it must all be a trick and test on integrity. People who read the book don't have to do 1000 pushups but then later after the pushups there is a test on it and the people who lied, and didn't have to do pushups, must now do 10,000.

**This is a joke of course but you should read the book.**
 
lying --> separation?

0_o

PLEASE tell me you are joking, and that you're not just now realizing this? This can't be a serious post.

Lying/cheating/stealing/tolerating = one-way ticket home
 
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Try These Too

Once you finish reading that...

Start going through
"The Commandants Reading List"
posted on his page.
 
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