As America celebrates its 250th birthday, we have an opportunity not only to honor our history but to renew our commitment to the people who continue to defend it.For 2 1/2 centuries, generations of Americans have answered the call to serve. They have fought our wars, defended our freedoms, and preserved the American dream. America’s strength has never rested solely on its economy, its technology, or even its military power. It has always rested on the character and courage of the people willing to wear the uniform.Our experiences in uniform were different, but they taught us many of the same lessons.
One of us spent 36 years in the Army, serving in combat in Vietnam before helping shape America’s national security at the highest levels of government. The other flew combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan as one of the Army’s few female Kiowa Warrior pilots before continuing to advocate veterans and military families. Our paths differ, but our conclusion is the same: America cannot project strength abroad if it fails those who serve at home.Military readiness begins long before the first shot is fired. It starts with strong recruiting, capable leadership, rigorous training, and high morale. It requires a military focused on winning wars and a nation that keeps its promises to those who serve. When the mission takes a backseat to ideology, confidence erodes. When servicemembers and veterans know they are supported before, during, and after their service, that confidence is restored.Under “America Last” leadership, that trust was tested.The withdrawal from Afghanistan left lasting scars throughout the military community and raised deeper concerns about the direction of our armed forces. Military leaders were asked to focus on political and social initiatives rather than preparing the force to deter our adversaries and win wars. Many also witnessed political leaders in Washington downplay patriotism, question America’s founding ideals, and project a diminished view of the nation they were being asked to defend. At the same time, young people watched veterans navigate mountains of paperwork, limited care options, homelessness, and the invisible wounds of war. It’s no surprise that confidence in military service declined.The lesson is clear: A nation that fails its veterans today will struggle to recruit the next generation tomorrow.Fortunately, America is moving back in the right direction.The Trump administration has made rebuilding military strength and restoring confidence a priority. Secretary Pete Hegseth is refocusing the War Department on its core mission of warfighting and readiness, while Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins is working to ensure veterans spend less time fighting bureaucracy and more time receiving the care they’ve earned. We’re already seeing progress: All five military branches met or exceeded their recruiting goals in fiscal 2025, the Army reached its target months early, reenlistment remains strong, and more veterans are seeing improvements in the services they depend on.Those gains are encouraging, but passing good policies is only half the battle.Veterans deserve more than a handshake or a quick “thank you for your service.” They deserve leaders who are just as committed to them after they come home as they were while they served. Military families serve as well, and they deserve policies that recognize and support their daily sacrifices. Communities must also play a role by building strong local networks that help veterans access the care, benefits, and opportunities they’ve earned.That is why the America First Policy Institute has launched America First Warfighters.America First Warfighters is dedicated to strengthening military readiness, improving veterans’ healthcare, and supporting military families, while ensuring active-duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families have a strong voice in shaping the policies that affect their lives. Just as important, it is designed to turn good policy into real-life results by connecting veterans with trusted resources, strengthening local communities, and ensuring military families never have to navigate these challenges alone.As America enters its next 250 years, our greatest competitive edge will be a people still willing to answer the call to serve.But that willingness is not guaranteed. Young people will only answer that call if they believe their country will stand behind them.TRUMP HAS BIGGER PROBLEMS THAN IRANEarning and keeping that trust is essential to our national security and to sustaining the strongest, most capable fighting force in the world for generations to come.That is the mission of America First Warfighters, and it is a mission worthy of America’s next 250 years.Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg is a co-chairman of American security at the America First Policy Institute and served as an assistant to the president and a special presidential envoy for Ukraine.Amber Smith is a senior adviser for America First Warfighters at the America First Policy Institute. She is a former Army Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, a former deputy assistant to the secretary of defense for outreach, and the author of Danger Close and Unfit to Fight.
