These Are the Voices That Get Lost In the ‘Woke Military’ Debate

By Kathleen Anderson, USAF ret

I served in the Air Force for over 20 years. Anyone who has worn the uniform knows that to dedicate two decades of your life to service requires that your occupation becomes who you are.

I had adopted the core values of my service as my own over the years; Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do.

So when, in the last few years of my service, I began witnessing gross violations of these values by my military branch in the name of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, I found I could no longer serve in a system that favored physical traits over proven ability.

I recently read two articles on diversity in the military, one from Politico and one written by a friend who still serves. Both pieces were interesting and enlightening; however, a voice I feel is missing from the diversity in the military debate – the voice of someone like me.

Those in the Profession of Arms aim to take the fight to the bad guys and win. Unfortunately, we have been doing little ‘winning’ lately.

My husband and I are veterans of the Forever War, with numerous tours to Iraq and Afghanistan under our belts. We both lost friends in the war, my husband bore witness to terrible atrocities and saw combat a considerable number of times. Things that are still with him to this day – and what do we have to show for it?

Instead of focusing on training and equipping ourselves to win wars, the DOD has spent excessive time and money on DEI initiatives. For example, last year, the DOD budget had $86.5 million for “diversity and inclusion activities.”

Involvement in the DEI complex is good money, as discovered by Senator Eric Schmitt from Missouri, who shed light on the fact that DEI employees in the military are paid three figures.

In a letter he wrote to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Senator Schmitt wrote: “America’s adversaries will not be defeated by spending six figures to hire DEI administrators.” . . . .

. . . So, as an advocate for making it easier for women to get the same treatment as men in uniform, why am I so critical of the DEI initiatives that are supposedly in place to help elevate minorities such as women?

Because I need mutual respect, not elevation, DEI doesn’t offer me or anyone respect but instead acts as a money pit to elevate ideology. . . . (read more on Political Insider)