The US military academy at West Point has dropped the motto ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ from its mission as veterans slam ‘progressive ideology’ for eroding tradition.
The term, which was added in 1998, will be replaced with the words ‘Army Values,’ according to Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland.
The lieutenant general asserted that the new mission statement ‘binds the academy to the Army’, while ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ is fundamental to the culture of the United States Military Academy and ‘will always remain our motto’.
In a statement addressed to West Point cadets on Monday, Gilland wrote: “Our responsibility to produce leaders to fight and win our nation’s wars requires us to assess ourselves regularly.”
“Thus, over the past year and a half, in collaboration with leaders from across West Point and external stakeholders, we have reviewed our vision, mission and strategy to serve this purpose,” the letter continued.
US Military Academy at West Point has dropped ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ motto from its mission as veterans slam ‘progressive ideology’ for eroding tradition
The term, which was introduced in 1998, will be replaced with the words ‘Army Values’, according to Superintendent Lt Gen Steve Gilland
‘As a result of this assessment, we recommended the following mission statement to our senior Army leadership: ‘To build, educate, train and inspire Corps of Cadets to become commissioned leaders of character, committed to Army values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and the nation .’
While the motto was officially introduced in 1998, the phrase was originally mentioned in a famous speech by General Douglas MacArthur in 1962.
In the 1962 speech at West Point, General Douglas MacArthur said: ‘The long gray line has never failed us. If you did, a million ghosts in dreary olive, in brown khaki, in blue and gray, would rise from their white crosses and thunder the magic words: Duty, Honor, Country.’
The lieutenant general asserted that the new mission statement ‘binds the academy to the Army’, while ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ is fundamental to the culture of the United States Military Academy and ‘will always remain our motto’
Gilland also pointed out that West Point’s mission statement has changed nine times in the past. Pictured: New cadets march in a campus courtyard during Reception Day at the United States Military Academy at West Point
Gilland also pointed out that West Point’s mission statement has changed nine times in the past.
The academy’s previous mission statement read: ‘To educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character, committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to nation as an officer in the US Army.’
The MacArthur Society of West Point Graduates criticized the change, calling the decision “progressive ideology” for eroding tradition.
“As in many great institutions in the United States, progressive ideology is eroding away at West Point and doing so in a slow but methodical march, co-opting our good intentions through the specter of cultural Marxism,” the group said. ‘Our opponents are unscrupulous, but sophisticated and very patient.’
West Point graduate Meaghan Mobbs called the new mission statement ‘a warning sign that should make everyone sit up and take notice,’ as reported by Washington Times.
The MacArthur Society of West Point Graduates criticized the change, calling the decision ‘progressive ideology’ for eroding tradition (Pictured: – Photos of cadets at West Point Academy and Bartlett Science Hall)
Last year, the Army fell 15,000 soldiers short of its 60,000 enlistment goal and has only reached 40 percent of this year’s goal with three months to go
She said the new phrase is ‘watering down the West Point experience.’
‘They say the silent part out loud. West Point is losing its comparative advantage,’ she said.’
The federal service academies must be distinct from the senior military schools and broader ROTC. I think this is also indicative of the broader challenges that recruitment and retention face in our military.’
This comes as Republicans constantly insist that the Biden administration is “hell-bent” on politicizing the military.
The Army is in the midst of a five-year plan to become a ‘model example of diversity, equality and inclusion’ with the White House’s blessing.
Last year, the Army fell 15,000 soldiers short of its 60,000 enlistment target and has only reached 40 percent of this year’s target with three months to go.
A leaked internal Defense Department study in June reported that only 9 percent of young Americans who would qualify for the U.S. military have any inclination to apply.
The drop in numbers has led many in the GOP to blame liberal policies pushed by the Biden administration for the declining numbers. It includes troop drag shows and DEI training classes.
Republicans succeeded in limiting abortion access for troops, funding for transgender medical care and DEI initiatives as their price for passing the $886 billion National Defense Authorization Act last summer.
In January 2023, the Army announced plans to expand three ‘fat camps’ to allow hundreds of overweight or underqualified potential recruits to make the grade before starting basic training.
Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, the commander of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, blamed the crisis on young Americans being too fat or criminals to defend their country.