CNOs guidance on diversity

[scoolbubba]

Ahem, you do realize that the military lead the way (for better or worse) in affirmative action?

are you talking about desegregation?

 

[mmx1]

are you talking about desegregation?

No, affirmative action. I am less familiar with the Navy/Marine history, but I do know that the Army has long had an official policy of affirmative action since the 1970s, and I believe it was across the services.

 

[xnvyflyer]

Seems like affirmative action (racism) to me. Why not concentrate on getting the best people for the position no matter what their race? Weak. Great way to weaken a country.

 

[Spekkio]

Why the hell should anything be more or less difficult because of skin color? Does this type of attitude do anything other than promote racism rather than get rid of it. The Navy officer corps from what I have seen is probably the least racist place in America.

What gets me is that people automatically associate "diversity" with skin color, and then go on to extrapolate how "cultural differences due to different backgrounds" add strength to the military.

A white person and a [insert minority] person growing up as neighbors in the same town usually aren't going to be too "diverse" from each other.

 

[FLYTPAY]

Seems like affirmative action (racism) to me. Why not concentrate on getting the best people for the position no matter what their race? Weak. Great way to weaken a country.

+1 I completely agree. Not only is affirmative action racist but it is socialist. You are trying to make everyone equal. Taking the best people for the position is capitalistic. He/she/it who works harder/smarter advanced further/faster. Promotion boosted by minority skin color will cause a racial divide and rift due to the unfairness of it.

 

[robav8r]

Maybe I'm not understanding this paragraph. It sounds like the assumption is whites are being overtaken in terms of population by minorities, whites are the best and brightest, if they are not breeding as prolifically as minorities, less of the best and brightest will lead our military, therefore, we won't have the best and brightest anymore when minorities take their place? maybe i get a -1 for reading comprehension if this isn't what you were saying, but it doesn't quite sound right to me.

a better phrase would be "if the best person for the job is...the best person for the job, then so be it" and we could avoid all of this BS.

Because there is a concern within DOD that the supply of "white guys" (historically, the largest % of those who have filled our ranks in the past) are "running out." So, how can we ensure that we continue to attract the best when the "pool" of folks we have historically considered in ethnic and cultural diversity is changing (i.e. less white guys)? Yeah, I know, it sounds racist, biased, and all kinds of other things. BUT - the fact remains that european and american caucasians are decreasing in population and some feel "insecure" about that . . . .

Soooooo, how does the current crop of folks sooth the fears of those that think that regardless of our societal fabric, we won't/can't continue to be the best military in the world.

BTW - not trying to agitate the hornets nest uneccesarily here, but i've been watching this "diversity" challenge unfold for a while now, and no one seems willing to talk about what is really going on and all the causal factors behind it. Thoughts ???

 

[jeeplovindad]

Seems like affirmative action (racism) to me. Why not concentrate on getting the best people for the position no matter what their race? Weak. Great way to weaken a country.

I see what the CNO is trying to do here and I can ALMOST understand the point that he is trying to get across. His belief system is based on the idea that a minority is less likely to be able to show that he is equal to the task of the non-minority because of his/her social/economic situation and the underlying prejudice that is innate to our society.

HOWEVER, I believe by putting such emphasis on DIVERSITY, the CNO is creating a greater division between the minority and the non-minority. The minority groups should have a huge problem with this whole topic because the more emphasis we put on creating diversity, the less likely anyone is going to believe that they are selected for any advancement solely on their merit and abilities.

My final thought is that I found it a sad day when I was told by my co-workers that I was at a disadvantage in my STA-21 package because I checked off that I was a Caucasian. I feel like we as a society have decided that we can do for one what we have not done for other and by doing so we are forcing each other to hesitate to be who we are in fear of the repercusions.