The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has removed the words “Duty, Honor, Country” from its mission statement in what some critics say reflects the deepening politicization within the military services under President Biden.
The mission statement until recently included the three words made famous in retired Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s 1962 farewell address to West Point cadets. The storied World War II and Korean War commander died two years later. MacArthur’s address gave new prominence to the motto adopted by West Point in 1898, five years before he graduated from the academy.
Lt. Gen. Steve W. Gilland, West Point superintendent, outlined the new mission statement this week. It says cadets will be grounded in “Army values,” including loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage.
The superintendent sent a letter Monday to the “Long Gray Line” and all academy supporters about the change. He noted that it had the approval of Army Secretary Christine E. Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George. “Duty, Honor, Country” remains the official motto.
“Duty, Honor, Country is foundational to the United States Military Academy’s culture and will always remain our motto,” Gen. Gilland wrote. The change in the wording of the mission statement was prompted by a requirement to “assess ourselves regularly.”
“Thus, over the past year and a half, working with leaders from across West Point and external stakeholders, we reviewed our vision, mission and strategy to serve this purpose,” he wrote.
“As a result of this assessment, we recommended the following mission statement to our senior Army leadership: ‘To build, educate, 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.’”
The letter ended with “Go Army! Duty Honor Country!”