Army General Teaches Mendham Students About Honor

MENDHAM, NJ — The senior leader of the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command used a variety of props to teach Mendham middle school students about honor and ethics.

Dr. Mitzi Morillo, Superintendent of Mendham Borough School District, invited Lt. Gen. Daniel Karbler, USASMDC commanding general, to speak to Mountain View Middle School students on Monday, Feb. 13.

The theme of the interactive presentation was "honor," with Karbler speaking specifically about how the honor code he learned at West Point has guided him throughout his personal and professional life.

Before the Mountain View Middle School students arrived, Karbler outlined a miniature football field in the front of the classroom, laying down about eight feet of white tape along the wall, including goal lines and hash marks.

"It’s the ethical playing field," Karbler told the nearly 70 eighth-grade students as he stood near the center of the taped-off area.

During the presentation, Karbler moved from each edge of the makeshift football field, repeatedly asking the students if he was in bounds or out of bounds. When he finally made it to the middle of the taped field, he asked again, "am I in bounds or out of bounds?" Both students in the back and front of the room answered in unison, "in bounds."

"I’m clearly in, and everybody knew that because I’m in the middle of the ethical playing field," Karbler said. "Conduct yourself so you’re always in the middle."Karbler encouraged students to not put themselves in positions where their honor, ethics, or truthfulness could be questioned."Don’t be the person who’s right here on the edge," he said. "Some will know your position, but others won’t be too sure."

Karbler told the eighth graders that life will present them with situations and pressures that will tempt them to cheat, lie, or steal, but they must choose how they respond.

"The West Point Honor Code says 'a cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those who do.’ This is my model for honor and honorable living," Karbler said. "It’s a simple code, but it's hard to live by."

Karbler went on to demonstrate honor by pouring water on sand, pebbles and a brick.

According to Karbler, the water represented the difficult times in one's life. He then asked students to consider how they would react in situations where life becomes difficult.

"A brick doesn’t dissolve," he said. "It represents an honorable foundation. "When the going gets tough, someone with honor doesn’t collapse; they don’t let their integrity fall," Karbler said. "They stay tough."

Following the presentation, students were encouraged to reflect on the value of integrity and commitment and to create their own honor code to guide them through their final semester of middle school and beyond.