Marine Corps Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, recently emphasized the importance of active-duty military personnel not publicly supporting candidates in the upcoming presidential elections.
“Importantly, as an institution, the American people cannot be looking at us as a special-interest group or a partisan organization,” Dunford said. “They have to look at us as an apolitical organization that swears an oath to the Constitution of the United States – not an individual, not a party, not a branch of government – the Constitution of the United States.”
Dunford specified that his expectation of impartiality applied solely to those currently in uniform, not retired member military personnel. Dunford highlighted that for active-duty members, impartiality is a key and ingrained part of service, but one that does not exclude voting.
“I didn’t spend 39 years in uniform not to exercise my responsibility and rights as a citizen,” Dunford said. “I’ve got a stake in the future of our country, and I care about my children and your children and everybody else’s children. So I care about the future of our country, and I will exercise my right to vote, but no one knows the lever I pull.”
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