A new study from Arizona State University suggests that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in the US military are not working well, NY Post reported.
Conducted by the university’s Center for American Institutions, the study argued that the focus on training new soldiers about social issues such as “unconscious bias” and “intersectionality” goes against traditional American values.
Research highlights DEI efforts as ‘laboratories for social experimentation’ in US military academies
The 80-page report criticized the treatment of prestigious military schools as a “laboratory for social experimentation,” according to CBS Austin. The report states that exposure to critical race theory during training is causing future military leaders to foster a culture focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The study looked at DEI initiatives across various military sectors, including DEI office staffing and education at academies like West Point. According to the report, DEI themes “dominate” the “Orwellian” trainings provided to servicemembers. To address this issue, researchers recommended making class syllabi public and increasing education on American values and the U.S. Constitution within the military.
“The massive DEI bureaucracy, its training and its pseudo-scientific assessments are at best distractions that absorb valuable time and resources,” as per research. “At worst they communicate the opposite of the military ethos: e.g. that individual demographic differences come before team and mission.”
Donald Critchlow, the director of the center, wrote in the study’s introduction that it focused on examining the influence of Critical Race Theory in the training of the United States Armed Forces.
According to Critchlow, the Founders of our nation recognized the dangers of a politicized military and feared it. They knew from history that such an army could easily become “a tool for tyranny.” He added that the United States Armed Forces have long maintained the tradition of keeping their mission separate from politics.
Calls to revamp DEI offices amid recruitment challenges
The study recommends that DEI offices be completely eliminated, but acknowledges that this might be politically unlikely at the moment.
“The surest way to eliminate the concerning trends we have identified, and the growth of race and sex-based scapegoating and stereotyping in the US military, is to altogether end the DEI bureaucracy there,” the study reads.
The study also suggests that the military should prioritize civic education, emphasizing “America’s commitment to freedom and opportunity.” This new research comes at a time when some branches of the military are still facing challenges in recruiting new service members.
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