How Effectively is the Cadet School Able to Develop Leaders of Character?

Abstract

This article examines the ability of the Irish Defence Forces (DF) Cadet School to produce officers of character and competence. Character is central to the military leader; it is a requirement of mission command and it is a force multiplier in Peace Support Operations that the DF are engaged in. The article examines the literature surrounding character development and the structures in place in the Cadet School and the wider DF to support character development. This is compared to academic theories and international practices in other military academies. The article identifies the current processes, as they are understood by those who have instructed in the Cadet School and those who have recently passed through the training program. The article outlines how the processes in the Cadet School do develop character, primarily through the actions of the instructors but this is not supported by an explicit character development program. The article outlines a proposed framework for the development of a Character Education program encompassing existing structures, such as the Cadet School
Ethos and the DF Values. This could be further used to operationalise the DF Values in action and enhance leader development across the DF.