Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Ted Cruz, along with U.S. Representative Keith Self, have introduced the Maintaining Academy Culture and Assuring Retention of Tradition, Honor, and Unity of the Republic (MACARTHUR) Act. This legislative move comes in response to the United States Military Academy at West Point's decision to remove the phrase "Duty, Honor, Country" from its mission statement.

Senator Britt emphasized the importance of maintaining these guiding principles at West Point: "Our nation’s preeminent service academies train, educate, and empower the next generation of servicemembers and leaders. The MACARTHUR Act recognizes and reaffirms West Point’s guiding principles of ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ to ensure its foundational values continue to shape the character of cadets for decades to come."

Senator Cruz expressed concern over the removal of these core values: "For centuries, the United States Army has set the global standard for military excellence because its leaders embrace a lifetime of selfless service and embody the values of ‘Duty, Honor, Country.’ West Point’s removal of these core values from its mission statement risks eroding the foundation of American military leadership."

The phrase "Duty, Honor, Country" was first used by West Point in 1898 and gained significant prominence during General Douglas MacArthur's 1962 speech to the Corps of Cadets. In 1998, it was officially added to West Point's mission statement. However, in March 2024, this phrase was removed from the revised mission statement.

The proposed MACARTHUR Act aims to restore these words in West Point's mission statement. Senator Cruz stated that this legislation is intended to "reaffirm West Point’s mission and emphasize the meritocracy that has shaped American military excellence for generations."