**Key Takeaways:**
1. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point has updated its mission statement, replacing “Duty, Honor, Country” with “Army Values.”
2. This change, approved by senior Army leadership, aims to align the Academy more closely with the broader Army values.
3. Despite the update, “Duty, Honor, Country” remains the foundational motto of West Point, embodying the institution’s culture and the cadet experience.
4. The revision of the mission statement is part of West Point’s ongoing efforts to produce leaders ready for modern and future challenges.
5. Critics view this change as part of a broader trend of “woke” policies within the U.S. military and its institutions.
6. The mission statement has undergone nine revisions in the last century, reflecting the Academy’s adaptability and commitment to relevance.
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In a significant move, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point has decided to update its mission statement by replacing the iconic “Duty, Honor, Country” motto with “Army Values.” This decision, conveyed through a letter from Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland to students and supporters, marks a pivotal shift in the Academy’s guiding principles. The original phrase, which has been a part of the mission statement since 1998, is now succeeded by a commitment to embodying the Army Values in all facets of the Academy’s mission.
Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland emphasized that this change is a result of thorough self-assessment and collaboration with leaders within West Point and external stakeholders. The revised mission statement, endorsed by senior Army leadership, now reads: “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.” This update signifies a deeper integration with the broader ethos of the Army, ensuring that cadets are not only prepared for service but are also deeply ingrained with the values that define the Army today.
Despite the update, the essence of “Duty, Honor, Country” continues to be a cornerstone of the West Point tradition. Lt. Gen. Gilland reassured that this triad of values remains the bedrock of the Academy’s culture and will forever symbolize the ethos of West Point graduates. These values, according to Gilland, are what bind the Long Gray Line of West Point alumni across the institution’s storied history.
The decision to revise the mission statement has not been without its detractors, who argue that it reflects a broader trend of incorporating “woke” policies within the military and its educational institutions. However, the Academy maintains that the updated mission statement is focused on the essential tasks of building, educating, training, and inspiring cadets to be leaders of character, fully committed to the Army Values and prepared for a lifetime of service.
This revision marks the ninth change to the West Point mission statement in the last 100 years, demonstrating the Academy’s commitment to staying relevant and responsive to the evolving landscape of military leadership and warfare. Through these updates, West Point reaffirms its dedication to developing leaders who are not only ready to face the challenges of increasingly lethal battlefields but are also exemplars of the values that define the U.S. Army.