The New West Point Motto

[Ben]

West Point is replacing their motto of "Duty, Honor, Country" with "Army Values". I was actually surprised that the former has only been in place since 1998. But, given my "woke inundation bias", I can't help but think "Army Values" is the new motto for the "everybody gets a trophy, "equity", and a sex change" crowd.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/west-point-military-academy-drops-duty-honor-country-mission-statement

[K Frame]

What? They're not adopting Spenser Rapone's "Communism will win" slogan?

I'm a little surprised.

[K Frame]

And wow... I just did a little digging into what Spenser Rapone is upto since he got his ass kicked out of the Army?

Looks like he's pursuing a PhD in history from University of Texas.

Going into academia. Perfect place for an honorless commie *expletive deleted*it stain. He'll be welcomed with open arms.

[MechAg94]

Given the politics of the day, that sounds like it is geared toward loyalty to the Army rather than the Country or Constitution.  Plus it sounds too much like "family values" which was a nebulous political talking point a few years back.

Are "Army Values" defined somewhere? 

[HankB]

. . . Are "Army Values" defined somewhere?

Sgt. Heather respects both her mommies.

[dogmush]

Given the politics of the day, that sounds like it is geared toward loyalty to the Army rather than the Country or Constitution.  Plus it sounds too much like "family values" which was a nebulous political talking point a few years back.

Are "Army Values" defined somewhere?

The Army Values are:
Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage.

[Hawkmoon]

Given the politics of the day, that sounds like it is geared toward loyalty to the Army rather than the Country or Constitution.  Plus it sounds too much like "family values" which was a nebulous political talking point a few years back.

Are "Army Values" defined somewhere?

My immediate reaction was that "Army Values" is a great equalizer, an excuse to apply the lowest common denominator. It's not an objective standard. If everyone in the Army is a shitstain with the morals on an alley cat, then "Army Values" equates to the ethical standard of an alley cat.

[Hawkmoon]

The Army Values are:
Loyalty
Duty
Respect
Selfless Service
Honor
Integrity
Personal Courage.

Where is this defined?

[dogmush]

Where is this defined?

ADP 6-22 Chapter 1 para 1-71

Also AR 600-100

[Ben]

Where is this defined?

I was kind of interested in the history of it, given that "Duty, Honor, Country" is so recent. I failed at the googles, other than to learn that the motto has been changed a total of nine times. I couldn't find a historical list.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/03/west-point-removes-duty-honor-country-from-mission-statement/

[dogmush]

I was kind of interested in the history of it, given that "Duty, Honor, Country" is so recent. I failed at the googles, other than to learn that the motto has been changed a total of nine times. I couldn't find a historical list.

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2024/03/west-point-removes-duty-honor-country-from-mission-statement/

Try this:
https://www.usamm.com/blogs/news/army-values-what-being-a-soldier-is-all-about

[230RN]

"...'woke inundation bias'..."

Can I license the use of that phrase?

I point out again that vagaries, even the phrase "Army Values" and the list of words which "define" that, are part of  the general leftist strategy of disrupting anything at all related to our former unifying values.

Hard concept to grasp... which makes it very effective.

Even the term "woke" itself is vague enough to be applied anywhere to anything, which therefore disperses the thought processes involved in using it.

Too subtle?

Exactly.

Terry, 230RN

[dogmush]

"

I point out again that vagaries, even the phrase "Army Values" and the list of words which "define" that, are part of  the general leftist strategy of disrupting anything at all related to our former unifying values.

You can point it out, but you'd be incorrect.  The Army Values, and their meanings,  have been formalized and taught to all Army soldiers for 30 years, and were created to fight the forces of creeping leftism perceived to be weakening the Army post Vietnam and post Cold War.

They are literally the unifying values of the mid 20th century American military.

[230RN]

"You are wrong."

My assertion, as unprovable as your opinion that I am wrong, is that Leftist / Socialist / Communist conceptions and attitudes have infused every aspect of "America's" consciouslness and that necessarily, deliberate or not, this has occured at every level of government as well as the military.  Like it or not, see it or not.

My opinion is that therefore, the less denotative a word is, the better it is for the general disruption of the thinking processes, be it as a "motto" or otherwise.  This assertion is as unprovable as yours (that I am wrong) except for the final outcome.

I am discomfited by the remark that "Communism will win," but I am also discomfited by the fact that Communists / Leftists / Socialists are magnitudes better at public rrelations and opinion manipulation than most of "us," however you delineate "us," but including high levels of the military in my mind. 

I therefore rest my assertions on that fundamental process  of mental manipulation knowing that you will not accept that notion.

Terry, 230RN

[dogmush]

Without commenting on your assertion,  I was responding to what you said:

even the phrase "Army Values" and the list of words which "define" that, are part of  the general leftist strategy of disrupting anything

(Bolding mine)

The genesis and adoption of the current Army Values,  and their explanations, is well documented,  and not a leftist strategy. So while vagaries could be part of an overarching communist plan, these particular words are not, and your sentance  is provably false, just by reading the field manuals and training materials of the late 90's.

Also, since the same ADP that currently lays out the 7 Army Values also gives explanatory paragraphs on each, I disagree with the assertion they are particularly vague at all.

That said if everyone wants to continue to gnash their teeth at West Point changing their motto to incorporate values that the rest of the Army has been internalizing and living for decades, I can't stop you.

[230RN]

OK, thanks for the additional comment.