“The Honor Code Is Healthy, Fair, Effective”: An Assessment Of The Honor System At West Point

COL Scott Halstead grew up in a military family, his father and his uncle having graduated from West Point. Growing up he did not want to be in the Army, and it was not until high school that he decided to come to West Point. He entered the Academy with the class of ’91, and branched Infantry upon graduation. In June 2014, he assumed his current role as the Director of the Simon Center for the Professional Military Ethic (SCPME) at the Military Academy. In this interview, COL Halstead talks about growing up in a military family, his current position at the Military Academy, and his views on the Honor System. He discusses trends seen among Cadets with regards to the Honor System, and suggests changes that can be made in order to improve it. He describes how the Honor System has evolved since his time as a Cadet and how it continues to evolve. He talks about the importance of the Honor Code and how it shapes character. Finally, he talks about what West Point means to him. Please note: due to technical issues, the video gets fuzzy at the 17 minute mark, but the audio remains clear.