“We are at an endemic point and if we do not do something to turn the tide soon, I feel the military could be lost forever. No matter how bad you think it is, the problem is much worse than you think and removing this cancer will be quite difficult. I would say 80% of our current officer force either wholeheartedly believes in the left-wing agenda and drives it like Col. Ben Jonsson, or they are too cowardly to speak against it.”—Veteran Air Force Officer who worked under Col. Ben Jonsson
By Rob Bluey, Daily Signal
When the U.S. Senate unanimously approved 425 military promotions earlier this month, one person was missing from the list: Col. Ben Jonsson, the Air Force officer who espoused controversial views on race and diversity.
Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., stepped in to hold Jonsson’s ascension to brigadier general after a 10-month blockade of all military promotions by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala. When fellow Republicans threatened to join Democrats to circumvent Tuberville by changing Senate rules, the senator withdrew his objection.
As a result, military officers who were singled out for their “woke” views on race, sexuality, and COVID-19 had their promotions swiftly approved Dec. 5—except for Jonsson and about a dozen other high-ranking generals. Senators then voted Thursday to give the promoted military officers retroactive pay for the time they waited.
The Daily Signal first reported in August on Jonsson’s views on diversity, equity, and inclusion—and his endorsement of a book on critical race theory.
The story prompted The Heritage Foundation’s Oversight Project to request and obtain a Defense Department “climate” assessment of during Jonsson’s leadership of MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida.
The assessment included blistering criticism of Jonsson from his subordinates at MacDill, where he served as commander from 2020 to 2022. It paints a picture of his tenure and concerns about his views on DEI and CRT.
Following publication of the November story, The Daily Signal obtained more information about Jonsson’s time at MacDill, including an official DEI policy memo and email from a field-grade officer promoting a diversity agenda to his wing. For the first time, both can be read in full below.
“I worked under Col. Jonsson when he was the wing commander at MacDill Air Force Base and witnessed many troubling things,” said a veteran Air Force officer, who asked for anonymity to speak openly without facing retribution.
“When [President Joe] Biden was elected, he said elatedly in a meeting with all squadron commanders, ‘Now we can start doing diversity training again.’”
“He also forced the COVID vaccine and masking harder than any other commander I am aware of. At a time when no one in Florida was wearing masks off base, he routinely would keep the base in heightened state of Health Protection Condition.”
Missouri’s Schmitt, in a statement to The Daily Signal explaining his decision to block Jonsson’s promotion in the Senate, said he objects to military leaders who promote DEI.
“It is long past time to root out divisive DEI policies and their advocates from our apolitical military,” Schmitt said.
“Leaders must emphasize unity of mission and purpose, not our immutable differences, if we are to maintain our military as the greatest meritocracy in the world.”
“I cannot in good faith allow the confirmation of individuals who advance this divisive DEI ideology to proceed by unanimous consent.” . . . .
. . . . The Daily Signal recently obtained a Jan. 21, 2022, policy memorandum issued while Jonsson was at MacDill.
Written by Col. Jonathan E. Burdick, who was commander of the 6th Operations Group until his retirement this year, the memo defined DEI and outlined expectations for the group. (Read the full memo at the end of this story.)
DEI should be “baked in,” Burdick told MacDill’s 6th Operations Group, “instead of being reactively audited on a periodic basis.”
“DE&I processes will be incorporated into our normal battle rhythm to help illuminate blind spots, recognize unintentional bias, and strive to bring unintentionally overlooked airmen back into the fold,” Burdick wrote.
In practice, Burdick said, DEI would shape decisions on military promotions and other advancement opportunities.
“Going forward, every nomination for selective professional development programs, training courses, awards, leadership opportunities, and jobs must incorporate an internal review to ensure that all eligible candidates are considered,” he wrote.
“This review intends to ensure that all candidates are given fair and equal consideration, and bias and blind spots are mitigated.”
The DEI policy memo outlined plans to review and analyze the group’s commitment to diversity.
“Group leadership will compare its placement of diverse airmen in selective professional development programs and desired jobs with Air Force and United States population demographic data,” Burdick wrote.
The memo concludes with this endorsement: “DE&I must remain integral and consistent with our core values, overall readiness, mission accomplishment, and reflective of the nation we serve.” . . . .
. . . .The Air Force’s Air Mobility Command, headquartered at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, operates a leadership and development program for officers known as Phoenix Horizon.
According to a list of nominees reviewed by The Daily Signal, individuals had an asterisk placed next to their name if they were “diverse.”
“This program is highly selective and for most officers selected, it puts them on a path to future commands,” the veteran Air Force officer explained. “There are a few ‘golden tickets’ in the Air Force that set the trajectory of your career, and this is one of them for Air Mobility Command.”
Asked about the list, Air Mobility Command’s director of public affairs told The Daily Signal: “The [‘diverse’] indicator is applied to the list after selections are already made and is used as part of the outbrief to the developmental team following a selection board as an awareness tool.” . . . .
. . . . Last year, The Heritage Foundation commissioned the National Independent Panel on Military Service and Readiness to study the effects of DEI programs on military readiness, among other issues. Chaired by Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., the panel recommended that the Defense Department eliminate DEI programs and training.
The views Jonsson expressed while leading MacDill are consistent with DEI principles now propagated by Defense Department leadership and embraced by all branches of the U.S. military.
At the Air Force Academy where Jonsson served as vice superintendent, a “Diversity & Inclusion” slide presentation advised cadets to “use gender-neutral language and avoid terms such as mom and dad.” It also urged cadets to avoid the term “colorblind” and instead be “color conscious.”
Under Jonsson’s leadership, the academy faced criticism for promoting DEI and critical race theory.
Beginning during the Obama administration and accelerating on Biden’s watch, the military built a vast DEI bureaucracy.
Those who questioned it, such as U.S. Space Force Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier, faced discipline.
The veteran Air Force officer, who spoke anonymously to The Daily Signal, warned that “wokeness” was raging out of control within the military. He called it a “cancer” that threatens to undermine the entire institution.
“We are at an endemic point and if we do not do something to turn the tide soon, I feel the military could be lost forever,” the officer said.
“No matter how bad you think it is, the problem is much worse than you think and removing this cancer will be quite difficult.”
“I would say 80% of our current officer force either wholeheartedly believes in the left-wing agenda and drives it like Col. Ben Jonsson, or they are too cowardly to speak against it.” . . . . (read more on Daily Signal)
‘He Sees All White People as Racist’: Military Assessment Criticizes Air Force Colonel’s Leadership
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