Capt. Joe Amoroso, USA, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 2012. A decade later, after service in the 82nd Airborne and a deployment to Iraq, he will return to West Point as an instructor of American Politics.
But first this MOAA member is wrapping up his Ph.D. at the University of Virginia and could use your help for his thesis.
Amoroso is surveying veterans on political engagement and participation. All veterans are invited to participate. Survey questions will explore voter behavior, perceptions of government, and running for office.
Visit this link to complete this nonpartisan survey: https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eXOYH6srFuLnUi
“What is the interest among veterans?” Amoroso asked in an interview with MOAA. “Is there an appetite for greater participation among veterans? Or are military veterans pretty cautious or concerned about the military being more politicized?”
The findings will no doubt inform Amoroso’s future role as a West Point instructor when he starts next June.
“It’s really important we teach cadets what’s going on in politics, how to engage in politics. But at the same time, how to do their military job with a sensitivity to civil-military relations norms,” Amoroso said. “To put a finer point on it, it’s being politically aware but not partisan.”
Amoroso, a field artillery officer, has spent much of his Army time with the 82nd. As a lieutenant he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve and as a captain he commanded the 82nd Airborne Division’s Division Artillery Headquarters Battery.
He is presently assigned to the U.S. Army Student Detachment, out of Fort Jackson, S.C. His return to West Point for a three-year assignment will be special.
“It was a dream for me, even when I was at West Point. I had just the best instructors, and I wanted to come back to do the same thing,” said Amoroso, who grew up near USMA in the Hudson Valley. “My career mentors were teaching in the same department that I’m about to go teach in. Personally, its’ a big deal for me.”
Interested in Taking the Survey?
Amoroso provides the following details:
- Access the survey here: https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3eXOYH6srFuLnUi. It will be open through Aug. 9.
- Participation is voluntary. None of the responses will be connected to identifying information.
- The survey will take about 10-15 minutes.
- At the end you can provide an email if you’d like to participate in a follow-on interview.
- The statements and questions included in this study are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, U.S. Military Academy, DoD, or any part of the U.S. government. The University of Virginia maintains no official partnership with MOAA, but we are proud to count Amoroso among our membership.
