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“CODE OF SUPPORT” FOR OUR TROOPS ANNOUNCED

Counterpart to Military “Code of Conduct” Offered as Armed Forces Day Tribute Gives Meaning to the Words “Support the Troops”

Washington, DC May 16, 2005 – As a special Armed Forces Day tribute to our men and women in uniform around the world, a group of retired senior military leaders has created a “Code of Support” for our troops as a parallel to the “Code of Conduct” for military service members.  “Americans all like to say that we ‘support our troops,” and we proudly display bumper stickers and yellow ribbons to that effect,” said Brigadier General (Ret) Alan Salisbury who chairs the “Critical Issues RoundTable” in northern Virginia.  “We asked ourselves what these words really mean.  And then we thought of the ‘Code of Conduct’ to which our service members all subscribe which includes the commitment, ‘I am prepared to give my life’ in defense of my country and our way of life.  What do we  Americans owe our troops in return?  The ‘Code of Support’ offers a way to give meaning to those words.”

Like the Code of Conduct, the Code of Support contains six articles, beginning with the first article: “I am an American.  I know that the men and women in our Armed Forces are prepared to give their lives to defend my country, my way of life and the blessings of liberty throughout the world.  I am committed to their perpetual recognition, appreciation and support.”  Other articles pledge to ensure our troops are not sent into harms way without the necessary resources, to keep faith with prisoners or those missing in action and their families, to take care of our veterans, and, with an acknowledgement that “our service men and women do not make national policy, but are sworn to obey their civilian leadership and defend the constitution,” commit to “respect their faithful service to the nation and always give them my unqualified support.”

The Code of Support has already received strong endorsements from service organizations including the Air Force Association (AFA), the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA), the National Association for Uniformed Services (NAUS), and the Uniformed Services Disabled Retirees (USDR).  In addition, The Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) is printing upwards of 20,000 copies of the Code of Support to be given to each registrant at its annual TechNet convention this week at the DC convention center.

“We were most impressed with the ‘Code’ and are hopeful organizations and individuals will read the code and adopt it as their own,” said Rober E. Largent, National President of the Air Force Association.  Major General (Ret) William Matz, president of the National Association for Uniformed Services added, “This document provides a meaningful response to those in the American public who ask what they can do to support our troops and it will be an important reference for those who are so inclined – as every American should be.”

Special Web Site Allows Personal Endorsements, Dedications to Service Members

A special web site has been established at www.codeofsupport.org to allow individuals to review the Code of Support and print out a copy, as well as to add their individual endorsements to a publicly viewable Log on the site.  Many of those signing the Log are dedicating their endorsements to service members past and present, including parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters. “These personal endorsements include many very moving tributes to our service men and women,” added Salisbury.  The Code of Support along with its web site adds a special touch in support of our troops for this year’s Armed Forces Day.

About the Critical Issues RoundTable

The “Critical Issues Roundtable” is an informal non-partisan group of retired senior military leaders in the greater Washington DC area who meet regularly to discuss contemporary issues of national importance and, where appropriate, offer ideas and public-policy recommendations in the form of white papers or direct communications with target audiences. Additional information can be found at www.criticalissuesrt.org.

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Send mail to WM@CriticalIssuesRT.org with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: 02/25/07