West Point Removes ‘Duty, Honor, Country’ From Mission Statement

The words were first added to the mission statement in 1998.

West Point graduates stand and sing the Army Song during the 2022 West Point Commencement Ceremony at West Point Military Academy in West Point, N.Y., on May 21, 2022. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

The United States Military Academy (West Point) has updated its mission statement to leave out the words of its iconic motto, “Duty, Honor, Country.”

In a school community-wide message announcing the change on March 11, West Point Superintendent Lt. Gen. Steve Gilland said the updated statement better “binds the Academy to the Army.”