June 30, 2022 (Image credit: West Point FB)
On May 24, the Concerned Graduates of West Point published a “Declaration of Betrayal of West Point And the Long Gray Line” describing their concerns about the management of West Point Military Academy. The areas of concern they mention include failure to enforce the Honor Code; violations of cadet’s religious freedom, of the Nuremburg Code, and of the Uniform Code of Military Justice; and outright socialist indoctrination. The officers allege that, “The cumulative impact of these changes has so altered the Military Academy that USMA betrays the purpose for which it was founded in 1802 – defense of our Constitution, and maintenance of individual freedom. This transformation betrays the purpose of the founders and the sacred principals of the Declaration of Independence.” The document, signed by LTG Thomas McInerney, USAF (Ret) Class of 1959, MG Paul E. Vallely, US Army (Ret) Class of 1961, and Colonel Andrew O’Meara, US Army (Ret) Class of 1959, was sent to the Department of Defense, the Superintendent of West Point Military Academy, General Mark Milley of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Association of Graduates.
Having received no response to their May letter or to FOIA requests seeking information, the officers sent another letter on June 24. In that letter, they reviewed the purpose of their initial letter and summarized the information they requested:
- An explanation for the irregularities in the enforcement of the Honor Code.
- A justification for the mandatory vaccinations of cadets with the COVID Virus despite widespread adverse reactions to the inoculation, as well as provisions for exceptions for cadets with religious objections.
- An explanation for teaching Critical Race Theory at the Academy that constitutes an attack upon the Constitution and our constitutional Republic. This is behavior that constitutes unconstitutional conduct, if not sedition.
- An explanation of reported mismanagement of the cadet dining facility resulting in unsanitary conditions, inadequate food prepared for the meal, and food served that was reportedly unfit for consumption.
- Political activism on the part of civilian faculty members constituting political activity violating the long-standing policy of the Academy and Army Regulations.
- The practice of exclusive reliance upon radical progressive guest speakers to address the Corps of Cadets. This practice results in prejudiced political activism on the part of the Staff and Faculty in violation of Army Regulations.
- An explanation for the failure of the Superintendent to respond to correspondence enquiring about problems identified at the Academy.
On June 28, the Pocatello-Chubbuck Observer was able to speak with Major General Paul Vallely, US Army (Ret), about the Declaration and the follow-up letter. He explained that while the documents focus on West Point Military Academy, the problems described also apply to the Annapolis Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and the U.S. Marine Corps. He stated that the Association of Graduates was made aware of the problems by cadets and academy instructors who reached out to them to express their concerns.
MG Vallely explained that the current emphasis on “woke” diversity training has reduced recruitment across all branches to the point that the military is unable to maintain proper unit strength. Besides facing recruiting difficulties, the Air Force may also lose up to 300 of its current pilots this year due to the vaccine mandates. Speaking of the vaccine mandates as they apply specifically to the academy cadets, he stated, “These are the healthiest kids in the world; they shouldn’t be getting vaxxed.”
When asked if it is possible to reverse the slide into wokeness and return the military’s focus to its intended mission, MG Vallely expressed his belief that a restoration is possible under the right leadership. In order to achieve the needed changes, he believes it will be necessary to retire all current three- and four-star generals and admirals and replace them. He hopes that the next elections will result in an administration that is willing to address the current issues facing the military, and until then, he and the other officers will continue to draw attention to the situation.
