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Core Values

The Core Values

The Core Values are the four basic qualities CAP expects all members to display at all times: Integrity First, Volunteer Service, Excellence in All We Do, and Respect. Below is an outline of the Core Values as found in the CAP Learn to Lead Leadership textbook.

Integrity First. Integrity is the willingness to do what is right, even when no one is looking. Think of it is a moral compass or inner voice guiding your every decision. A person of integrity is honest and morally courageous. They can be counted on to fulfill their responsibilities, even in difficult circumstances. They don’t blame others for their mistakes, and they don’t take credit for someone else’s work. Integrity is the cornerstone of military service

Volunteer Service. This Core Value teaches us that the needs of the team and of the people we help take priority over our individual wants and desires. To put it even more simply, Volunteer Service is about “selflessness.” It’s the difference between “giving” and “taking.”6 This Core Value is especially important because CAP is entrusted with performing life-saving missions. Volunteer Service is also evident when experienced cadets mentor and train new cadets.

Excellence in All We Do. Being a cadet means you value Excellence. No matter what challenge is facing you, you will give it your best effort. If you value Excellence, you demonstrate teamwork and know that teams accomplish more than individuals do. Moreover, to display this Core Value, you must make a commitment to continuous self-improvement – you must study, train, and work to better yourself and fulfill your potential in every aspect of your life.

Respect. The Core Value of Respect challenges cadets to defend human dignity. Someone who is respectful treats others as they would like to be treated. They are polite and kind. They assume their friends and even strangers act in good faith, so they give them the benefit of the doubt. Likewise, a respectful person understands that each individual is unique and accepts them for who they are, in a spirit of tolerance.

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