By LTC Victor Roeske, US Army ret
USMA ’74
To: West Point Board of Visitors (BOV)
From: Victor Roeske, West Point Class of 1974
Subject: Concerns I Have About West Point’s Ability to Accomplish Its Mission in Our Constitutional Republic
Below are several concerns that I have for you, BOV. Thank you for listening! Vic
1. I was very disappointed to hear that the longstanding motto, Duty Honor Country, was removed. I never heard any compelling reason why the motto was removed.
I submit that those three principles are essential to be instilled in West Point cadets and graduates, who are charged with leading the military in its mission of war-fighting and winning our Constitutional Republic’s wars.
I strongly recommend re-implementation of the motto.
2. I am very concerned about the adverse impact that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as currently defined is having in offering appointments to the highest qualified candidates, those who have demonstrated a great potential to be effective leaders in war fighting and winning our country’s wars.
I was the Congressional District Coordinator for Admissions for MI-09 and resigned my position late last year, because I could no longer in good conscience tell outstanding candidates and their families that West Point is a great institution to attend right now.
One such example for me was when an outstanding white female candidate for the Class of 2027 in MI-09 was denied an offer of appointment, in spite of medical doctors recommending a medical waiver for a challenge the candidate had much earlier in her life. The Assistant Director of Admissions at the time told me that the decision to reject the candidate was made in the Superintendent’s office.
I interviewed the candidate, reviewed her file and her performance at the magnet high school she attended, and found that she was an exceptional candidate with great potential AND great physical ability to lead as a cadet and then as a commissioned officer. It was very interesting to me that the candidate was offered to walk-on as a soccer goalie at a Division I Big Ten school.
I highly recommend the replacement of DEI with meritocracy, excellence, and integrity (MEI) as the backbone for selecting candidates to whom to offer appointments.
3. I question the value of the undergraduate institution West Point having so many civilian professors, given West Point’s mission.
I was a cadet from 1970-1974. I was a Math Assistant Professor from 1983-1987. In the Math Department during my time as an assistant professor, I can recall only one Visiting Professor being there, Dr Maury Weir, who was a Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School.
As a cadet and then as an assistant professor, I saw the great value of having primarily a fully-qualified-academically active duty rotating military faculty who also could serve as mentors in war fighting skills for the Corps of Cadets.
Some of those rotating active duty faculty did have their PhDs. The Permanent Military Officer/PhD Professors provide great extended academic expertise and continuity.
I strongly recommend that the model for selecting faculty that I describe be restored and that every faculty member at West Point be required to affirm the oath that military officers take, to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
4. I am concerned that the Corps of Cadets has no venue for being taught and understanding the original intent of this Constitutional Republic’s priceless founding document, the US Constitution.
Given what is happening in our country today, I became a Constitutional Coach with Patriot Academy to find out what this document actually and factually says.
I highly recommend that the curriculum of Patriot Academy be implemented in the training of all staff, faculty, and cadets at West Point regarding the original intent and continued importance of retaining that original intent of our Constitution if our Constitutional Republic is to survive. Included in the training should be a study of the original intent of the Declaration of Independence.
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