Trust Among Naval Personnel
Trust plays a vital role for sailors in the Navy. It allows them to depend on each other’s expertise and confidence in their officers’ decisions to ensure safety at sea. This trust embodies a commitment to ideals larger than oneself.
As a proud graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy from the class of 1994, with a specialization in systems engineering that laid the groundwork for my 26-year career as a nuclear submariner and foreign area officer, I feel a sting from recent comments and denials made by former classmates regarding their involvement in the “double E” cheating scandal from 1992.
This scandal, named after the electrical engineering exam given to non-engineering majors, cast a shadow over my entire class. A small group of midshipmen got hold of a copy of the test and distributed it among themselves to gain an unfair advantage in a notoriously difficult course.
News spread rapidly, leading many to discover that the exam had been compromised. However, too many did not act to put an end to what turned into a prolonged crisis of trust at the Naval Academy. Now, 33 years later, this story has resurfaced in the public eye.
Recently, discussions around Michelle “Mikie” Sherrill’s involvement in this scandal have become relevant again, especially in light of her campaign for New Jersey governor. Sherrill was among those implicated during the scandal. Several groups were investigated: those who stole the exam, those who actively cheated, and those who knew about the cheating and benefited from it.
Sherrill faced a tough choice: uphold the honor code and reveal what she knew about cheating or protect herself and her peers. This isn’t a straightforward decision for a young individual, but, as future naval officers, midshipmen are expected to adhere to higher standards than the average person.
We had discussions about similar situations during our “Ethics for the Junior Officer” course. Guided by figures like Dr. Karel Montor, we learned lessons using examples such as Admiral James B. Stockdale to remind us that our primary loyalty is to our nation.
However, Sherrill chose to conceal her knowledge of the cheating. She risked expulsion—typically the penalty for such a violation of the honor code—but ultimately, she was denied the opportunity to participate in her graduation ceremony.
Some have defended Sherrill’s decisions. For instance, Fox News commentator Jessica Tarlov suggested that Sherrill did the right thing because “snitches get stitches.” However, the honor code that we all adhered to at the Naval Academy is simply “not to lie, cheat or steal.”
One of my classmates, Brent D. Sadler, expressed his feelings on this matter, stating that Sherrill broke the honor code and, rather than hide her past, she should confront it and explain to voters how her experiences shaped her.
This expectation of integrity is essential for naval officers and is one reason why the military garners respect and trust. Sherrill’s actions have indeed contributed to the tarnished image of the Naval Academy and its graduates over the years.
The significance of military integrity is particularly pertinent right now, given that recent decisions have weakened our Navy’s ability to deter threats from China, alongside troubling behavior from some senior military leaders. It seems that many have strayed from these ideals, opting for personal gain when crucial decisions were needed.
People can certainly change and learn, but that requires owning up to past actions and accepting the consequences. Unfortunately, while Sherrill has admitted she didn’t report her classmates, she has focused more on the inappropriate release of her private records—something that shouldn’t have happened, but it feels like a diversion from the core issue.
Second chances can be valid; as the Secretary of War mentioned recently, the military should shift away from a mindset of “zero-defect.” Yet, honor—and trust—is challenging to regain. So, has Sherrill reestablished the trust of the public?
