FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Over 80 National Security Leaders Sign On to Letter Calling on Presidential Campaigns to Prioritize National Service
National security leaders including former cabinet secretaries, State Department officials, and Pentagon appointees, join former National Security Council members and veterans on bipartisan letter to campaigns
WASHINGTON, DC (October 13, 2020) – Today, the Serve America Together campaign released a letter signed by over 80 diverse and bipartisan national security leaders to President Trump and Vice President Biden’s presidential campaigns calling for an expansion of national service. The letter, which is signed by national security leaders including former cabinet secretaries, State Department officials, Pentagon appointees, National Security Council members, and veterans from across the Armed Services, urges the candidates to prioritize national service in their potential future administrations as a way to maintain the strength and security of our nation.
“As Americans, we are at our best when we look out for our fellow citizens. In the military, I witnessed that kind of loyalty every day, as we all focused on accomplishing one mission together. In leveraging the skills which made each individual unique, we were able to meet our goals, have our teammate's backs, and protect our country. Without the highest level of trust between us, we could not have succeeded. Here at home, too, I'm proud to see young people across the country rising to the occasion as we face new challenges. Young Americans have found new ways to support our nation’s response to the pandemic. From stocking food banks, to acting as mentors in the age of online learning, and even responding to wildfires and hurricanes, they offer us new hope of a strong future,” said Gen. (Ret.) Stan McChrystal, Co-chair of Serve America Together and Chairperson of Service Year Alliance.
“We, as a nation, are entrusted to maintain the safety and security of our democracy. Our success is directly tied to our effort to rebuild the trust that brings our citizens together, and the truths we hold to be self-evident. National service is an essential investment in our country and where we will go next. I’m proud to list my name among this diverse group of national security leaders who represent the true breadth and depth of a community that believes deeply in the power of national service. Together, I know we can take the next step to build a more secure future for our country,” said McChrystal.
“It is a powerful value statement for national service that so many national leaders have called for its expansion in direct response to the crisis America currently languishes in while simultaneously extolling the centrality of its virtues and benefits in building an American future where we don’t simply bridge our divides, we close them through shared experiences in serving our fellow Americans and our communities. I’m honored to join the Service Year Alliance Leadership Council and to add my name to this letter alongside my fellow national security leaders to not only advance the cause of national service for all Americans, but the pursuit of a better American future,” said Shawn Skelly, Co-Founder of Out in National Security.
The letter draws on Serve America Together’s campaign platform and urges on the presidential campaigns to expand national service in order to empower young Americans, respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and help knit our country back together. View all signatories and the full letter to the campaigns here.
With questions about the Serve America Together campaign, please contact Aly Ferguson at [email protected].
About Serve America Together
Serve America Together is a campaign to make national service part of growing up in America. The campaign is led by a coalition of over a dozen military and civilian service organizations as well as a group of bipartisan co-chairs including Gen. (Ret.) Stan McChrystal, Howard Schultz, Former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Former Congressman Joe Heck, Former Gov. Deval Patrick, Arianna Huffington, Laura Lauder, Andrew Hauptman, and Jeff Huber. It is a project of Service Year Alliance, an organization working to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. Learn more about Service Year Alliance at serviceyearalliance.org.
