The voice of the veteran is important and needs to be heard. While active duty service members should remain politically neutral, those who have taken the oath to defend the Constitution have a duty to speak out to defend the very freedoms that they swore to protect.

As a combat veteran and former volunteer chairman of Special Operations for America, I was honored to represent more than 10,000 veterans and their families on issues of national security, including the dishonesty of Benghazi, the failure in Syria, the lack of medical treatment for returning veterans and the importance of energy independence in a conflict-ridden world.

Special Operations for America was created with a clear mission — elect a Commander-in-Chief who will defend American exceptionalism. We had a small but outstanding staff and hired professionals who were committed to patriotic audiences; and we were absolutely transparent with no hidden donors and compliant with the law in every respect. I traveled extensively, paying out of my own pocket at all times, to promote our message to receptive audiences around the country. To suggest I profited off of my voluntary role as chairman is knowingly disingenuous.

Over the course of my tenure as chairman, I am proud of the list of accomplishments we achieved, including rallies in seven states, conventions, mailing millions of letters, producing the “Bow to Nobody” commercial that was viewed by millions, and promoting former Special Operation candidates like Gabriel Gomez from Massachusetts and Tom Cotton from Arkansas.

When I resigned as chairman, weeks before my announcement for Congress, I did so to ensure that any future campaign effort was separate and distinct. Now I look ahead, and how I can best serve the people of Montana.

My focus remains on the issues of importance to Montanans: restoring trust in our government, fixing a broken Washington and promoting American exceptionalism. This includes our need to recognize and respect the sacrifices that combat veterans and their families have made. We need to honor our commitments through better health care and providing education opportunities for good paying jobs.

Veterans have made huge sacrifices for these opportunities for all of America and we need to honor that sacrifice. I believe in American exceptionalism, and I believe that our country must keep its promises take care of those who have served.

Veterans deserve a proven leader in Washington, someone who can inspire those around him or her. Those who have ever worn the uniform understand the values of honor, courage and commitment. And just like every American, we are all proud to be a part of a country that represents the best in all of us.

Let’s work together, for the sake of future generations, to bring more leadership and less politics to our nation’s capitol. God bless America and all who defend her.

Ryan Zinke, of Whitefish, is a Republican candidate for the U.S. House. He is a retired Navy SEAL commander and former Montana state senator who represented Columbia Falls and Whitefish.