Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training and policies are harming the development of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado, according to a retired Air Force lieutenant general and a parent whose son is at the academy.
The Epoch Times spoke to Rod Bishop, Air Force Lt. Gen. (ret.) and chairman of the board for the advocacy group Stand Together Against Racism and Radicalism in the Services. Mr. Bishop, who has befriended several cadets attending the academy, said he has heard numerous stories about what some of the cadets are experiencing.
He said, in a recent incident, a civilian professor began a semester calling white male cadets in the classroom “white boy number one, white boy number two, and white boy number three, because all you white boys look alike.” In another classroom, white cadets were asked to give an example of their “white privilege,” he said. Cadets have also been taught that calling their parents mom and dad could be offensive and calling them guardians or parents would be more inclusive, he added.
Since 2020, Pentagon leaders have mandated DEI policies to be incorporated into military services, a move that has sparked a backlash from Republicans and conservatives.
“Since DEI is rooted in Marxism and the history, lineage, and divisive intent reflects that Marxist-based ideology, isn’t it ironic that America’s military is welcoming and embracing these concepts with open arms when we sacrificed 95,000 American lives in Korea and Vietnam fighting against this very same ideology?” Mr. Bishop said. “We spent trillions of our national treasure since the end of World War II resisting its constructs and false promises throughout the world.”
The retired Lt. Gen. said these social justice concepts shouldn’t be allowed to be integrated into the U.S. military which is supposed to be an apolitical institution.
“Our military should be solely focused on readiness and deterrence.” If deterrence fails, he said, “winning our nation’s wars becomes paramount, and doing that job to the best of our ability means there is no time to get involved with the cultural wars invading our society.”
By J.M. Phelps
