A Republican senator is demanding that the U.S. Military Academy defend its decision to remove the words “Duty, Honor, Country” from its mission statement.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee on Tuesday sent a letter to Lt. Gen Steve Gilland, the commandant at West Point, to explain why this change was needed to a mission statement that “has long been a beacon of inspiration for many prospective officers, reflecting the Academy’s commitment to producing leaders of character who are called to serve our nation.”
She wrote, “Duty, Honor, Country is a phrase that has become synonymous with the Academy itself.”
Read: GOP Lawmakers Seek To Ban DEI At U.S. Medical Schools
“Those three words serve as a solemn and patriotic reminder that our country is worth defending, with the utmost duty and honor,” she added.
As the Tampa Free Press reported last week, the new mission statement says, “To build, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and nation.”
Those values include loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George supported the change. “Duty, Honor, Country” remains West Point’s official motto, as it has since 1898.
In her letter, Blackburn noted, “By maintaining a definitive mission, we will ensure our military always understands the values of the country they dedicate their lives to defend. … As they are faced with a daunting assignment, many brave men and women are carrying ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ in their hearts, with some making the ultimate sacrifice because they believed in those foundational words.”
Read: Gov. DeSantis Dubs Florida Democrats “The Best Opposition Party We Could Ever Ask For”
Unlike the previous verbiage, West Point’s new statement “represents a vague subjective that can be changed time and again based on cultural and personal preference,” the senator added.
“As Russia, China, Iran and North Korea continue to test the will of the United States, West Point recently held its largest diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conference. While the U.S. military has been focused on DEI initiatives, our adversaries are plotting against us.”
All U.S. military institutions should have just one goal: developing principled leaders and lethal warriors.
“The principles that have led generations of soldiers should not be erased to appeal to the cultural moment,” Blackburn added.
Read: Poll: Despite Biden’s Apology, Strong Majority OK With Using “Illegal” For Border-Crossers
She asked Gilland to reply with background information about what led to the change; whom the general was referring to when he stated that the change was made with help from “external stakeholders”; and his comments to those who are “Army Values” can be “broadly interpreted to fit the ever-changing cultural climate.”
Help support the Tampa Free Press by making any small donation by clicking here.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.