A conservative advocacy organization is pushing for Congress to permanently enact reforms aimed at refocusing U.S. military academies and war colleges on preparing officers for combat. The blueprint, released by Restoration of America, argues that these institutions have strayed too far into civilian academia and advocates for a return to a "warfighting-first" mission.
Doug Truax, founder of Restoration of America and a West Point graduate, stated that the expectation for academies is to produce "warfighters, not philosophers and future bureaucrats." He emphasized that significant public funds are invested in these institutions, with the primary goal of generating capable military leaders.
Restoration of America's 12-page proposal outlines sweeping changes across four key areas: admissions, curriculum, faculty, and governance. Among its recommendations are a permanent ban on considering race, ethnicity, and sex in admissions, and a requirement for at least 75% of coursework to directly address military competencies and warfighting. The blueprint also suggests replacing many civilian professors with active-duty or retired military officers and eliminating tenure at military educational institutions.
The organization's plan also calls for ending participation in programs like the Rhodes Scholarship, arguing that top young officers should prioritize leadership training over overseas academic fellowships. It further recommends the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and a restructuring of academy oversight boards.
These proposed changes build upon actions already taken at the service academies. The Pentagon's review has led to the disbandment of several cadet clubs focused on race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation at West Point to comply with anti-DEI directives. Additionally, elective courses with DEI-related themes, such as "Race, Ethnicity and Nation" and "Power and Difference" at West Point, and "Gender Matters" and "Gender Sexuality Studies" at the Naval Academy, have been eliminated or modified.
Truax argues that these reforms, some of which were initiated under the Trump administration, need to be codified into law to ensure their permanence. He expressed concern that changes made through executive action could be easily reversed by future administrations. "We have to take our opportunity when we have power to put this into law," Truax said. "Otherwise, we'll look back and be like, well, we had that one little moment where it was getting better, but now we're right back where we were."
However, some critics argue that senior military education should encompass strategic leadership, including diplomacy and political understanding, rather than solely focusing on tactical warfighting. Retired Army officer Bradford Duplessis has contended that removing civilian faculty could lead to a loss of expertise in areas where military officers may have limited experience, and that a "cult of lethality" approach might not adequately prepare leaders for complex global environments. Truax, conversely, believes the officer corps has spent too much time on civilian-like thinking at the expense of warrior development.
Restoration of America plans to share its blueprint with lawmakers and administration officials, aiming to influence future legislation on military education. The group asserts that the current culture at military academies has shifted towards priorities resembling civilian universities, diverting focus from combat readiness. Truax stated that "Woke did not go anywhere. It's just in hiding right now," suggesting that without legislative action, the influence of such ideologies could return. The Department of Defense and the service academies have been contacted for comment.