It is not the intent of this paragraph to set forth all that is desired or required of midshipmen in the area of conduct, but to highlight some of the more important aspects and those areas which are most pertinent to the academic and military environment in the unit. When the Commanding Officer recommends a midshipman for commissioning, it is implicit that the soon to be commissioned officer is worthy of the special trust and confidence conveyed by the President of the United States in the commission. By accepting a commission, the midshipman assumes the responsibility for maintaining the highest standards in both professional and private life. Impeccable conduct and high standards of discipline are essential in the military community. Due to the responsibilities and demands of military service, acts or actions which might be permissible elsewhere may be intolerable in the naval service.
Officers are responsible for their people and equipment as well as their own actions.
Accountability must be a fundamental quality in an officer candidate. Irresponsibility or lack of accountability can lead to disenrollment from the program. Within the naval service, offenses are categorized and punishment is awarded based on the seriousness of the infraction. Major offenses are those which indicate moral turpitude, a serious breach of discipline, a hardened disregarded or contempt for authority, a culpable lack of responsibility, an incorrigible lack of energy and purpose, or actions which bring discredit upon the naval service. Minor offenses are those of a less serious nature which involve comparatively minor infractions of orders, instructions, regulations, or grooming standards.