The spirit of the honor code in the academies and of training in core values in the services is that the duty to live up to those values increases with rank. But in practice the duty decreases with rank. Generals get off light, while sergeants suffer. The honor code encompasses all aspects of a cadet's life, extending beyond the professional and academic realms into the personal realm. An individual's nonverbal communications that create an impression or convey a message to someone else in lieu of an oral or written statement must be truthful.
Equivocation is the intentional use of vague, misleading or ambiguous language.
Equivocation is a subset of lying. Cadets are expected to exercise tact in social situations. Social tact is designed to spare the feelings of others. However, the cadet must not gain an advantage in exercising social tact. John Wheeler chaired the group that built the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington.