Which summarizes the tardiness policy?

• A. The cadet must report tardiness directly to the instructor
• B. A medical note is sufficient in all cases
• C. The policy requires no documentation
• D. A cadet must submit an excused absence request through chain of command, explaining the tardiness; if the excuse is not approved, demerits will be assessed according to policy

Answer: (D)

Procedures for tardiness focus on accountability and proper procedure. The best approach is that a cadet must submit an excused absence request through the chain of command, explaining the tardiness, so the situation is reviewed by the appropriate authority and documented consistently. If the excuse isn’t approved, demerits are then assessed according to the established policy, ensuring there’s a fair consequence and that records reflect what happened.

This route matters because it keeps the process uniform and accountable, allowing leadership to weigh the circumstances before deciding whether the tardiness is excused and what if any disciplinary steps apply. Bypassing the chain of command undermines consistency and recordkeeping, which is why reporting tardiness directly to the instructor isn’t the preferred method. Relying on a medical note alone isn’t sufficient in all cases because approvals and documentation should still go through the formal process to determine validity and maintain fairness. And a policy that requires no documentation would remove accountability altogether, leading to unclear outcomes.