Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), along with U.S. Representative Keith Self (R-Texas), have introduced the Maintaining Academy Culture and Assuring Retention of Tradition, Honor, and Unity of the Republic (MACARTHUR) Act in response to the United States Military Academy at West Point’s decision to remove the phrase “Duty, Honor, Country” from its mission statement. The legislation seeks to reinstate the historic phrase, which has been a defining principle of the institution for over a century.
The phrase “Duty, Honor, Country” was first associated with West Point in 1898 and became a deeply ingrained part of the academy’s culture following General Douglas MacArthur’s 1962 farewell address to the Corps of Cadets. The phrase was officially incorporated into West Point’s mission statement in 1998. However, in March 2024, academy leadership revised the statement, replacing it with broader references to Army Values.
West Point’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; professional growth throughout a career as an officer in the United States Army; and a lifetime of selfless service to the nation.”
The revised statement 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.”
Senator Britt emphasized the importance of reaffirming West Point’s long-standing principles through the proposed legislation. “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,” Britt said.
Senator Cruz echoed this sentiment, stating, “West Point’s removal of these core values from its mission statement risks eroding the foundation of American military leadership. I am proud to introduce the MACARTHUR Act to restore these principles, reaffirm West Point’s mission, and emphasize the meritocracy that has shaped American military excellence for generations.”
The proposed legislation has sparked discussion on the role of tradition in military education and leadership. Supporters argue that restoring the phrase would maintain West Point’s historical identity and reinforce its commitment to core values, while others view the revised mission statement as a reflection of evolving leadership principles aligned with broader Army values.
The MACARTHUR Act is currently under consideration in Congress. If passed, it would mandate the reinstatement of “Duty, Honor, Country” in West Point’s mission statement, reinforcing the phrase’s historical significance within the academy.
