From SecWar’s speech: ” . . . Our fifth announcement, like the sixth that will follow, is about people. In an era defined by rapid change and shifting global threats, the demand for grounded, strong, and honorable leaders has never been more urgent.
Tomorrow’s leaders can’t simply manage crises; they have to thrive within in while maintaining their true North compass heading. Only leaders of character, who cherish our Constitution and love our country, should lead our great military.
Now thankfully, our military academies at West Point, Annapolis, and Colorado Springs, especially with the new leadership, the new admissions criteria, and new curriculum, they are heading back in the right direction. Back to the basics, from the classroom to field training.
These three institutions are critically important because as you know they commission the most officers in our force.
The next largest source of future officers is our six existing Senior Military Colleges and their Corps of Cadets. I’m sure many of you attended one of them. Thankfully, the core of these institutions, for the most part, have not wavered. I had a chance to see a great one at Texas A&M a couple of weeks ago.
In fact, places like that have doubled down on American values. The patriotic and selfless service being taught at places like Texas A&M, VMI, the Citadel, Norwich, Virginia Tech, and the University of North Georgia are exactly what our Nation needs.
But after that, we rely on a wide variety of commissioning sources. Many from institutions that have drifted, in some cases, have careened away from founding values. Now, I don’t need to give a sermon about the failings of higher education. You get it. I once wrote a book about it.
From the Ivy Leagues to most liberal arts colleges, our colleges and universities have become anti-American, DEI-worshiping, woke factories.
Qualities like grit and courage were replaced with political correctness and social justice. God and country traded for Che Guevara and critical theory.
What do we need?
We need students of Western Civilization and the pillars of our Republic. Leaders who understand the faith of Jerusalem, the philosophy of Athens, the power of Rome, and the freedom of Philadelphia, circa 1776. Officers of the Republic, proud of our country, proud of our heritage, and proud of our history and those who serve it.
We need more officers from academic institutions like our Military Academies and Senior Military Colleges. And today, we are going to make that happen. Enter a new Corp of Cadets.
To meet this critical need, we are partnering with a new crop of premier higher-ed institutions, including Louisiana State University, LSU, Liberty University, Tuskegee University, Mississippi State University, and Hillsdale College. These schools have stepped forward to answer the call to duty and establish new Corps of Cadets in partnership with the Department of War.
So, today at my direction, we are formally establishing a program to assist these universities and colleges. It is called America’s Corps of Cadets. This flagship effort is central to our goal of increasing the number of patriotic leaders of character who are commissioned into our Joint Force.
Each member school is designated a “Distinguished Military College,” reviving a category previously used in our department. And in this status, these institutions maintain exceptionally high standards of cadet discipline, tactical instruction, and military organization.
Additionally, these schools earn a prestigious “Honor School” status, which grants priority in officer commissioning, which you all know is a big deal. We are grateful to these initial five institutions for stepping forward and there are a number more that we plan to announce soon.
The status quo of our officer pipeline is pretty good. But the future will be even better.
By embedding continuous military discipline and leadership development into new institutions, by growing our Corps of Cadets, the War Department will ensure our Republic is defended by even more officers of unwavering character and patriotism.”
MEMO TEXT:
Our Nation’s academic institutions are essential to ensuring our Officer Corps is prepared to succeed on the battlefield today and in the future.
Harnessing the positive influences of the pace and scope of industry along with rich military history and American values is the combination that creates an environment for leadership success.
We must continue to develop warriors to lead our Nation for peace through strength.
The six Senior Military Colleges (SMC) established in law have carried these traditions with excellence through their Corps of Cadets.
We are building on the successes of Texas A&M University, Norwich University, the Virginia Military Institute, The Citadel, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and North Georgia College and State University by
raising additional Corps of Cadets.
Additional academic institutions are responding to the national demand for quality leadership and how it applies to the battlefield, the boardroom, the statehouse, and the community.
Therefore, at my direction, we are restoring the title of Distinguished Military Colleges as we create America’s Corps of Cadets.
The initial cohort of participating Universities and Colleges will be granted this unique distinction as they undertake creating their own Corps of Cadets.
This distinction honors their history and recognizes their path by providing a steppingstone towards becoming an SMC if they choose. By joining America’s Corps of Cadets, these schools earn the prestigious “Honor School” status, which grants priority in officer commissioning.
Within 30 days, the Office of the Secretary of War will begin implementation. Within 120 days, the Under Secretary of War for Personnel and Readiness will transition to become the office of primarily responsible for this priority.
We must be postured to meet the demands of a complex, modem battlefield and beyond by ensuring we have produced leaders prepared for every challenge.
Growing America’s Corps of Cadets puts our Nation on a path to achieve it.
Attachments:
TAB A – New Distinguished Military Colleges
Louisianna State University
Hillsdale College
Liberty University
Mississippi State University
Tuskegee University
https://media.defense.gov/2026/Sep/30/2004009286/-1/-1/1/AMERICAS-CORPS-OF-CADETS.PDF
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