A new DEI office at the Air Force Academy seeks to “transform” cadets.
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) somehow survived without a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office during the first 66 years of its existence. Now it has one, with a self-declared mission to “aid in the transformation of future Air and Space Force leaders.” Hudson Institute Senior Fellow John Fonte has written in this publication that “today, the goal of progressive educators is ‘fundamental transformation.’” But one seldom sees this spelled out as clearly as it has been by Air Force’s DEI office.
The “transformation” being sought isn’t one from selfish teenager to selfless man or woman prepared to serve with distinction in the U.S. Air Force. Rather, it’s from selfish teenager who believes in traditional American mores to self-obsessed adult who doesn’t. Part of the current motto of the Air Force Academy—which ditched the more spirited “Bring Me Men” 20 years ago—is “Service Before Self.” But the USAFA DEI office largely encourages the opposite.
The DEI office teaches future military officers to emphasize their own identity—the ways in which they are different from others—at the expense of unit cohesion and shared goals. It teaches, in the words of USAFA DEI chief Joseph Looney, that “it is impossible to ‘Respect Human Dignity’ as a leader if you fail to value a follower’s identity”—even if that identity defies reality. “We’re committed to supporting transgender Airmen and cadets,” says Looney. The Air Force Academy DEI office, which opened shop the same month President Biden took office, also says its mission is “to serve as the U.S. Air Force Academy’s strategic leader in structuring a shared vision of diversity and inclusion.” The notion that a DEI office would serve as a strategic leader of any sort in a military context is incredible.
https://americanmind.org/salvo/the-war-for-the-military/
