The main purpose of the campaign is to support the Academy in building leaders of character for the nation. Character development- deliberately integrated with academic, athletic and military training- distinguishes the Academy from other educational institutions. Character defines our professional military identity.

New cadets arrive at the Academy having attained the highest levels of academic, leadership or athletic achievement that are possible for persons of their age. They possess great potential for continued personal and professional success. But, even with their achievement and potential, the forces that shape our contemporary adolescent culture can yield personalities never before challenged to consider honesty, integrity, the welfare of others, or loyalty to an institution.

Therein lies the challenge and need for character development at the Academy.

Character and Leadership
Development Center

The Building Leaders of Character for the Nation campaign seeks $30 million to create a Character and Leadership Development Center that will concentrate all current cadet character development programs in one place, and that will improve existing and develop new character and leadership programs. In the future, when the Center's programs are mature and well-tested, the scope of the Center may expand - becoming a national resource.

Overseeing the Center will be a Director. The Director will be a nationally recognized scholar reporting directly to the Superintendent. There will be additional full-time faculty hires - the "character center faculty" - who will report to the Director.

On the academic side, the Center will seek the help of faculty from various academic departments to carry out its character programs. On the military side, the Center will contribute proactively to the Officer Development programs of the Superintendent and the Commandant.

Among the offerings being considered are: a course in the regular academic curriculum; supplementary course materials for use throughout the academic curriculum; a series of character enrichment seminars; sponsored guest lecturers; and participation in the Officer Development System.

To achieve this vision, the AOG is seeking endowments for distinguished scholars and lecturers, as well as funds to underwrite permanently the existing and planned character enrichment programs.