“Dear white Colonel, it’s time to give a damn. Aim high.”
Does that terminology anger or insult you? As a former Colonel of 25 years USAF active duty who happens to be white, I find it appalling. Yet, it comes from Colonel Ben Jonsson, formerly the USAFA vice superintendent, who was awaiting promotion to brigadier general. The parroting of such “identity politics” terminology by a presumed leader suggests a need to go back to basics and learn the meaning of unit cohesiveness and inspired leadership.
Then there’s General Charles Q. Brown, now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, who made a film following the George Floyd incident, discussing how he had experienced racism as a black member of the Service. In the film, he claims he “…had to work extra hard to prove to his white superiors that their expectations of African-Americans were invalid.” That is a gratuitous and biased criticism of officers with whom he served, ludicrous on its face because he now resides in DC with 4 stars. An inspiring leader would have put out a positive message to ALL the troops, citing his own meritorious service, without focusing on the divisive “racism” against which he asserts he had to contend.
So we now have a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office in the Pentagon. Could be construed as noble concepts when taken individually. However, when slammed down a service member’s throat, not so much. Those concepts are being imposed on the military supposedly to give everyone a voice. For straight, white males, however, there is an implicit vilification. But the pendulum always swings back though I wonder how extensive the damage done will be until it does. Has the Service that I loved given way to pronouns, victims, diversity, CRT and the like? Those ill-conceived notions destroy unit cohesion and promote a ruinous victimhood. And they discount and denigrate personal efforts, dedication and merit. They don’t work in a fighting unit when those who’re most capable should lead. Period.
Admittedly, since I left the Service in 1995, I am writing from an “old school” perspective about the current military climate. But, even then we had challenges within the ranks much akin to what they have today. We recognized them and took care of them through the leadership of commanders and NCOs. While no system is perfect, I thought we had a good way to save those that could be saved and rid ourselves of those who didn’t care to be saved.
But today we wonder why patriotism is at a low for younger people. We wonder why we can’t meet recruiting or retention goals. Why our senior leaders apparently don’t understand what unit cohesiveness is all about. Old school? I’ll take the LeMays, the Doolittles, the Shauds, the Foglemans, over any of this current crop of officers. Perhaps we should return to Old School thinking. It seemed to work better than today’s ineffective efforts. For it seems we have sacrificed standards and accountability on the altar of Woke.
And to fail in these is to fail good order and discipline. And that fails the country.
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Dear Wokester Trash: Last I knew the USAF had a simple primary mission: Kill bad guys and break their crap.
Does your sowing of division and distrust in the ranks help or hinder that mission?