Veteran GOP lawmakers grilled military academy leaders this week on whether they permit speakers with controversial statements on cases of diversity, inclusion, and equity (DEI). The hearing was held by members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
This line of questioning arose in the wake of reports this summer of a West Point Academy professor who made several controversial remarks regarding DEI, which many of the lawmakers found to be offensive. The professor had claimed, for instance, that the military should limit the number of African Americans it accepts to 10 percent of its intake.
The Senate hearing was seeking clarity on what protocols were in place to ensure incidences such as this do not happen in the future. Each official was asked whether their school had any DEI protocols in place and what procedures were being followed to prevent speakers expressing opinions that are contrary to the military’s values of inclusivity and diversity.
Gen. Darryl A. Williams, President of the United States Military Academy stated that West Point had made it a top priority to prevent any instances of this kind of speech in its training or on its campus. The academy has created a program to train the entire faculty on the latest DEI issues, and has launched a zero-tolerance policy against anybody who engages in xenophobia, misogyny, or racism, on or off campus.
Heads of the other military academies echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of inclusivity and showing strong opposition to any type of behavior that might make someone feel unwelcome. The officials explained that they had ensured wide-reaching DEI training encompassed all extracurriculars activities, such as sports teams and clubs, and that speakers with controversial views were not permitted to lead seminars or events.
It is clear that the delegates of the hearing were satisfied with this explanation and will continue to monitor the military’s DEI policies in order to make sure they are executed effectively. It is encouraging to see that America’s armed forces are taking the necessary steps to ensure DEI remains an integral part of their core beliefs and values.
