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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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. 

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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?

12. 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.

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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.

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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?