By Lauren Evans
U.S. Air Force Academy cadet
[This author’s name has been changed to a pseudonym to protect the author’s privacy.]
I never thought I’d consider leaving the United States Air Force Academy after working so hard for my appointment, but here I am contemplating whether this is the Air Force to which I’m willing to commit myself.
The first day of Basic Cadet Training was full of chaos, but I remember with intense clarity taking the oath where I promised to support and defend the Constitution — not any person or political agenda — against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
The military is supposed to be an impartial actor for the commander in chief. Our occupation and work environment are supposed to be devoid of political agendas and the influence of radicals.
And yet, anywhere one looks, the radical liberal and, dare I say, communist propaganda has infiltrated our ranks, classrooms, and even the minds of future officers.
Coming from a military family, including Purple Heart, Bronze Star, and Silver Star recipients, I have always valued meritocracy. I worked extremely hard to ensure I was qualified, based on merit, for acceptance into the academy.
It would be both demeaning and a disservice to my nation to only be at the Academy because I am a minority female.
Anything but a system based on merit is less than optimal and weakens our defense.
We all want to serve with airmen who are the best at what they do, not just airmen that met the quota for skin color, sexual preference, or other characteristics.
As Cadets, and especially as impressionable young freshmen, we are forced to sit through hours of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) briefs. We all understand that respect is of vital importance, but categorizing people as oppressors and victims based on skin color is just plain wrong.
Beyond this is the observed scope of the alleged problem. It would seem a problem of this magnitude would be obvious to nearly all Cadets … but it isn’t.
And frankly, in terms of cost-benefit analysis, the effort is doing more harm than good as it directly undermines unit cohesion and morale.
I see many bright young cadets who know that what is going on is wrong but are too afraid to speak up.
Many times during our DEI briefs, even if 90% agree that what we’re being taught is wrong, cadets will hold back and politely nod their heads for fear that what they have to say might offend even one person.
Perhaps this reluctance to speak up stems from being in an environment where the leadership seems grossly out of touch with the American public.
Being politically correct has somehow become the most crucial part of our training. I pray our adversaries are wasting as much time on this as we are.
Leadership erroneously believes these meetings unite us as a team, but in fact, cadets walk out whispering and shaking their heads, feeling more divided than ever.
We are continually told that we are in the business of “killing people and breaking things,” but when it comes to talking about issues within our own ranks, we are all about “safe spaces and time outs.”
This apprehensive atmosphere has led to record low morale. The heart-wrenching fact that three USAFA cadets died this last semester alone should be a sobering enough statistic to force leadership to adjust their heading.
Low morale can also be seen in the significant drop in both recruitment and retention rates. How can we be a force ready to take on our adversaries if we can’t effectively recruit and retain service members?
If the mission of DEI is to “attract, recruit, develop and retain,” it is failing miserably.
Our nation must wake up and realize that the more our politically selected leadership espouses such divisive ideologies, the deeper the divisions, and the greater the damage to our nation’s defense.
It’s not about skin color, ethnic background, or sexual preference — it’s about the mission, service to our nation, and defense of the republic.
I now have a decision to make. Do I decline to serve because of the ongoing push of this radical ideological agenda, or do I stay and fight for what is right?
The fundamental freedoms our forefathers fought and died for are priceless.
I will fight.
As Abraham Lincoln said, “America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves.
Lauren Evans is a U.S. Air Force Academy cadet.
First published in Washington Examiner
Responses to Lauren’s article, which was also published in the Colorado Springs Gazette:
LETTERS: What our military needs; leadership can’t see the problems
What our military needs
To the young anonymous cadet who had the chutzpah to say what most cadets (and probably most military personnel) are afraid to say: stop the insanity of “woke” (diversity, equity and inclusion) indoctrination, need I say brain washing as part of the academy curriculum.
Continuing to use the military as a social services political correctness platform is not only wrong but extremely dangerous. Are we training our military to be the best fighting force in the world (the Chinese are) or a touchy-feely politically correct organization. Considering who the commander in chief is, I’d have to say the latter.
I applaud the young lady for her truthful analysis of the garbage being taught at the academy, (probably all the academies.) Hang in there cadet, you are just what our military needs. I see stars in your future.
Retired Lt. Col. Barry S. Oswell, Air Force
Colorado Springs
Why can’t leadership see problems?
The opinion by (pseudonym) Lauren Evans is superb. Well thought out, supported by personal observations and clearly stated; “DEI and all that goes with it is destroying trust and unity within the ranks of the military.” And as a 26-year career naval officer, I would like to add that in my opinion, DEI is destroying our combat capability, unit cohesiveness and sense of pride in the military.
If Cadet “Evans” can see the problems of DEI in the military, why can’t the senior leadership of the Air Force Academy and yes, the senior leadership of our entire military see the same thing?
I sincerely hope she stays in and fights for what she perceives to be right. The Air Force and our military in general desperately needs her.
Mark (Gus) Grissom
Monument
USAFA just this week began briefings for the new juniors, called Sex Education. They are told they cannot take pictures or videos or record anything. There were enlisted walking through the group to make sure no phones are seen. They were told they didn’t want the same thing to happen as it did from last year.
They were told that sex is determined at birth but gender is how you see yourself. They were all told that as upcoming officers, they are going to be expected to respect those who report to them including their gender choices.
There is currently a calculus teacher (male) who wears female AF uniforms to class. This makes many of the cadets very uncomfortable. Their motto is that they do not tolerate liars but this fixes them to buy into the DEI lie.