Purpose of the Fourthclass System and its Connection to LDP Cadre Training

Training Objective Task: Understand the purpose of the Fourthclass System and its connection to the Leader Development Program Condition: Given the purpose and objectives of the Fourthclass System identified in the Blue Book, Guidon, and Guide to the Leader Development Program Standard: Correctly identify positive leadership methods that a cadre member could employ to help a cadet recruit manage the artificial stress associated with each objective of the Fourthclass System

Overall Purpose of the Fourth Class System “The Fourth Class System represents the foundation of The Citadel’s signature four year leadership development programs. It creates the discipline and instills the core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect which is expected of principled leaders in all walks of life.” Blue Book

Purpose of the Fourth Class System for Freshmen “The Fourth Class System creates artificial stress to accelerate and make second nature the habits of self-discipline, teamwork, and a collective sense of accountability for everyone on the team.” Blue Book

Purpose of the Fourth Class System for Upper Classmen “The system provides Upper Class Cadets with the opportunity to demonstrate learned leadership characteristics as they set the example, motivate, train, and mentor new cadets.” Blue Book

Resolving the Potential Tension Between the 4C System and Leadership as Service The  artificial stress created by the fourthclass system can promote remarkable individual growth in such areas as dealing with adversity, pushing yourself beyond your perceived limits, time management, understanding life is not fair, teamwork, perseverance, and prioritization for the fourthclassmen.  The potential leadership problem develops when the upperclass perceive their primary role as administering this system rather than helping the fourthclassmen succeed in it.  The upperclassmen then assume an adversarial rather than a service or positive leadership relationship with the fourthclassmen. 

Resolving the Potential Tension Between the 4C System and Leadership as Service The “system” should be a fairly neutral, detached, and impersonal  organizational bureaucracy made up of rules, traditions, schedules, duties, knowledge requirements, etc.  The “system” exists largely of its own accord.  It is merely the operational environment.  Rules governing how and where knobs walk is an example of system-induced artificial stress

Resolving the Potential Tension Between the 4C System and Leadership as Service Like the fourthclass, the upperclass operate within that existing environment but their role is to learn leadership themselves rather than to ensure the fourthclassmen get their money’s worth.  Instead of focusing on making things hard for their subordinates, the upperclass role is to serve the fourthclass by helping them succeed as they negotiate the environment.  To do otherwise is antithetical to leadership.

Objectives of the FCS (Blue Book and Guidon) To provide new cadets with an understanding of The Citadel’s core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect To teach new cadets the regulations, customs, and traditions of The Citadel To remove wealth and former station as factors in the development of new cadets To instill in new cadets a sense of humility and selfless subordination To develop personal character and create a foundation for honorable and ethical decision-making

Objectives of the FCS (Blue Book and Guidon) (continued) To instill new cadets with self-discipline To physically challenge new cadets and establish a foundation of understanding the necessity of physical fitness for life To instruct new cadets in time management To prepare new cadets for academic achievement To inculcate class cohesion in support of The Citadel’s Mission and the development of Principled Leaders

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System For each of the stated objectives, answer the following: How does the “system,” without any extraordinary effort on the part of the cadre, create the artificial stress associated with this objective? What is a negative way that a cadre member could add to this stress? What is a positive way that a cadre member could help a cadet recruit manage the artificial stress associated with this objective?

Example Objective: To inculcate class cohesion in support of The Citadel’s Mission and the development of Principled Leaders System-induced stress: Cadet recruits are dependent upon each other to accomplish such tasks as cleaning their rooms, sweep details, and reciting knob knowledge in unison on-line Negative leadership: Encouraging a knob to tornado a classmate’s room to send him a message that he is making the class look bad Positive leadership: When a knob has to move to another room, have the whole squad help him move and get his new room in order. Give them some tips on how to do this efficiently. Inspect the room when they are done and compliment them on their teamwork.

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To provide new cadets with an understanding of The Citadel’s core values of Honor, Duty, and Respect System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: Honor Code, Blue Book, Respect for seniors in military rank structure Negative leadership response: Sending a mixed message for example when upperclassmen aren’t held to the uniform standards and knobs are Positive leadership response: Leadership by example is how leaders go beyond talking about values and begin modelling them

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To teach new cadets the regulations, customs, and traditions of The Citadel System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: All the requirements in the Blue Book Negative leadership response: Adding additional requirements such as blitzing the back of the belt buckle Positive leadership response: Showing cadet recruits tips such as how to shine shoes

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To remove wealth and former station as factors in the development of new cadets System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: No car. Difficulty in getting around town. Negative leadership response: No sense of caring Positive leadership response: Ask the cadet recruits in your squad what they are doing during general leave and encourage them to go as a group to get a hamburger at one of the places within walking distance.

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To instill in new cadets a sense of humility and selfless subordination System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: Being outranked by everyone Negative leadership response: Humiliating knobs in front of their classmates whenever they make a mistake Positive leadership response: Servant leadership

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To develop personal character and create a foundation for honorable and ethical decision-making System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: Moral temptations associated with cutting corners, being a Spotlight Ranger, and misaligned loyalties Negative leadership response: Encouraging underage drinking and glamorizing alcohol abuse Positive leadership response: Do not put subordinates in a position they must choose between loyalty to an individual and loyalty to the values that individuals is supposed to uphold

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To instill new cadets with self-discipline System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: The ruthless prioritization and sacrifice required to meet all of knob year’s demands Negative leadership response: Adding excessive external discipline on top of this self-discipline Positive leadership response: Give cadet recruits a little time and space to work it out themselves. Don’t be laissez-faire, but give them a mission and then some room to get it done while you monitor progress and provide positive feedback.

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To physically challenge new cadets and establish a foundation of understanding the necessity of physical fitness for life System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: 20 push-up requirement, morning PT, CFPT Negative leadership response: Unauthorized class sets in the name of physical fitness Positive leadership response: Developing an individualized PT plan to help cadet recruits improve

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To instruct new cadets in time management System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: Purposely given more to do than they have time for Negative leadership response: Taking cadet recruits’ watches away on Matriculation Day Positive leadership response: Giving time saving tips such as how to get your room and uniform ready for the morning as much as possible the night before

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To prepare new cadets for academic achievement System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: Difficult and full course load Negative leadership response: Bothering knobs during MSP and ESP Positive leadership response: Familiarize knobs with the Academic Support Center

Leadership and the Objectives of the Fourth Class System To inculcate class cohesion in support of The Citadel’s Mission and the development of Principled Leaders System-induced stress Negative leadership response Positive leadership response System-induced stress: Roommates having to rely on each other to get room ready Negative leadership response: Encouraging tornadoing Positive leadership response: Having squad help a knob move when he is reassigned rooms

Conclusion The Fourthclass System has a purpose both for fourthclassmen and upperclassmen. We often focus solely on its purpose for the fourthclassmen. Based on this class, what do you want to personally learn as a cadre member this year?