In a military system, which often operates in extremely hazardous environments, the importance of honor and trust is of the utmost exigency. This is especially true when considering that both our lives and the lives of our shipmates may depend on the decisions we make and actions we perform. Honor, Commitment and Courage are the three core, or essential, values that all members of the Naval Service must possess. Honor is the keen sense of ethical conduct. Commitment is the state of being obligated or emotionally compelled.
Courage is mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger or hardship.
These core values are described in detail in Figure 5-2. 503. Ethics are standards by which one should act based on values. As employees of the federal government, Figure 5-3 lists those ethics that are expected from federal employees based on the values discussed above. These also apply to midshipmen earning their commission. For all the intrinsic excellence of our technology, experience demonstrates that its successful employment in battle continues to depend upon the integrity, courage, commitment, and professional excellence of those called upon to bring it to bear in defense of freedom.