By Paul E. Vallely, MG, US Army (Ret)
WOKE Military leadership and policies are to blame for the failing US Military. The citizens want to know that they have a military that is ready, trained, and capable of defending the Nation against all enemies, foreign or domestic. Countering the Threats to America and its Citizens U.S. Constitution – Article 2 Section
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment. He shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments.
US Constitution
The U.S. Military must always Defend the Constitution. The American people can have confidence that their servicemembers and women will continue to serve regardless of who is president, as has been the case since Washington relinquished the presidency to Adams, with a total and unflagging commitment to the Constitution of the United States.
The culture of the US Military is one founded on the virtues of loyalty and service. Specifically, loyalty to the Constitution and service to the nation over self. It is difficult to overemphasize the degree of commitment service members have to the Constitution. The best indicator is the Oath of Office, common across our government: I [officer’s name], do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter. So, help me God! This version, the Officer’s Oath, is representative of the pact that each member of the military makes each time they accept promotion, re-enlist, or assume a new office. To describe it as core, or central to the member’s ethos is correct, but also an understatement.
The individual service member’s allegiance is first, foremost, and for all seasons oriented on the Constitution and in this the U.S. Armed Forces suffer no compromise. It is important to recognize that this is fundamentally an apolitical stance—a trait that is fiercely defended and nurtured through training and education. You might note that the oath is not to the “Government,” the “President,” the “Secretary of Defense,” or any other office or official. The oath is a promise to serve the Constitution, adhere to its requirements and do so even unto what President Lincoln called “the last full measure of devotion.”2 Admittedly, the military is not monolithic, it is increasingly diverse in its makeup.
But in our commitment to the nation and its laws, we are unified. Unquestionably, there are service members who hold enthusiastic political views from across the political spectrum; those are personal and exercised privately in the voting booth. Authorized political activities are narrowly defined by law and where individuals violate this standard, they are reprimanded. In our roles as Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, Guardians and Marines, personal views are subordinated to our call to service. Embedded in the service member’s commitment to this ethos is a culture of service above self. In its basic form, you see it in the small unit training at our boot camps.
There, young men and women learn from the beginning that the team and the mission take priority over the individual. This concept is extrapolated in form across the myriad environments in which the individual service member lives and works. It is fundamental to our identity; it pervades our thinking and motivates our actions in matters both routine and monumental. It is the call to service that leads us to endure separation or deprivation, to ask our families to do the same, and at times to bear physical risk even unto death. It is a consistent and stirring feature of the military life whether expressed in frequent moves, lengthy times at sea, or combat tours.
Commitment to service over self explains why, even though the turmoil of the past month, the public can rely on their military to put aside any personal views on the events of today and see the requirements of the Constitution met. Service to the nation is the mission and America’s military will see it through.
Being an Army soldier, I am providing the sole mission of the Army, but it also applies to all Members of our Armed Forces.
Mission of the Armed Forces
• Preserving the peace and security and supporting the defense of the United
States, the Commonwealths and possessions and any areas occupied by the
United States
• Supporting the national policies
• Implementing the national objectives
• Overcoming any nations responsible for aggressive acts that imperil the
peace and security of the United States
What are the Principles of Mission Command? Does our Military practice and reflect
these?
• Competence.
• Mutual trust.
• Shared understanding.
• Commander’s intent.
• Mission orders.
• Disciplined initiative.
• Risk acceptance.
The Federalist: With Drag Shows and ‘Gender Fluid’ Internships, It’s No Wonder Military Readiness is Down. We have serious problems with our military, evidenced by the latest Heritage Foundation 2023 Index of Military Strength, but Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin seems most interested in pushing DI&E mandates and support for abortion rights. Note that the 2011 Military Leadership Diversity Commission recommended that promotable officers should only rise to high rank if they support the “diversity” agenda. Explains a lot, doesn’t it?
Now the former Chair of the MLDC, retired AF Gen. Lester Lyles, has returned to head a new DI&E power base in the Pentagon. This bad idea, BTW, originated with former Trump Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who should have known better. Esper recently called for some sort of commission to deal with the recruiting crisis — another bad idea given the poor judgement Esper has shown in the past.
The next Congress and administration should defund and dismantle the entire military diversity complex, which benefits only woke professionals who make a living pushing DI&E.3
These are the issues facing the Military and the Armed Forces:
• Growing politization and political WOKEISM of Generals and Admirals’
• Vaccine Mandate
• Critical Race Theory, Diversity Training and Transgender Focus: CRT
•
• Qualification of Recruits
• Readiness
• Retention
• Increased Disconnection with US Population
• Erosion of Trust in senior leadership
• Wasteful spending
• Ties to Defense Industry Companies
• Decay in Patriotism
• Unnecessary Wars
Elaine Donnelly, President – Center for Military Readiness
The state of our Armed Forces is a grave concern. With the threats mounting against
America from within and without, we need to have national leadership that can assure the
citizens that we are always prepared to protect our country and its people.
Distributed by the Stand Up America US Foundation
Contact: standupamericaus@protonmail.com
