The effects of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the U.S. military pose a grave threat to the nation, witnesses testified last week during a House Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs hearing.
Unlike in business or higher education, where the damage of diversity hires may be on the bottom line or reputational, in the military, considerations of criteria apart from merit affect the ability to win wars, putting the nation at risk, argued Army Ranger veteran Will Thibeau.
“Like a drop of ink in a glass of water, the hint of ideology outside the scope of the military profession is corrosive to the force’s effectiveness,” he said. “Historical examples from 18th Century France to the Soviet Army of the late-Cold War reveal a slippery slope once factors outside the explicit context of military competence affect military decisions. Increasingly, objective military professionalism is now seen as one factor among many that allows leaders to ‘comprehensively’ evaluate a person, system, or policy; this, of course, being a euphemism for considerations of race and sex.”
Former Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, meanwhile, who was fired from his command in the Space Force for exposing the damaging effects of DEI in the military, entered into the record a 100-page document of feedback from service members, veterans, and family members on how DEI initiatives are “hurting morale, dividing and distracting troops, disincentivizing Americans from service, and thereby destroying our recruiting and retention efforts.”
🚨 Witness says he was FIRED for pointing out the illegality and divisiveness of DEI.
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) January 11, 2024
“My name is Matt Lohmeier, and I’m an Air Force Academy graduate, former F15C fighter pilot, and was a Lieutenant Colonel and commander in the Space Force.
“In 2021, I was fired from my… pic.twitter.com/BrjENpGtm6
The comments, a sampling of which are included here, are damning:
"History is littered with examples of militaries whose consideration of political ideology precipitated a collapse in military professionalism, all of which served as a precursor to the collapse of their respective nations," warned Thibeau. "America should not wait to find out if we can outrun the drumbeat of such history."
🚨 Witness issues stark warning for the future of America if our military continues to incorporate political ideology.
— Oversight Committee (@GOPoversight) January 11, 2024
“History is littered with examples of militaries whose consideration of political ideology precipitated a collapse in military professionalism, led to defeats… pic.twitter.com/O8AHjZtI9F