Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro hosted a Department of the Navy (DON) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Summit, June 22, with senior DON, Navy and Marine Corps leaders. The goal of the summit was to discuss opportunities and identify action items to promote DEI initiatives and establish a renewed focus on data and evidence-based decision making. (U.S. Navy photo by CMCS Shannon E. Renfroe)
The Navy is all in for DEI. At the Navy website if one clicks on “who we are,” one of the first things that shows up is “diversity and equity.” It must be important to show up so prominently.
The Navy Diversity and Equity website page says: “I AM A SAILOR. WE ARE A TEAM. THIS IS OUR NAVY.”
“When Sailors feel included, respected and empowered, they will be more ready to win wars, deter aggression and maintain freedom of the seas.” -ADM Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations.
The Navy offers no evidence to support the CNO’s statement. It is not clear how the statement actually relates to diversity or equity. It does mention feeling “included” a form of “inclusion” but in a vague sort of way. In my 34 years in uniform, I don’t recall at any time being asked my feelings. Must be a new thing. I doubt the People’s Republic of China military leaders ask how their people are feeling? The Navy I served in stressed toughness, stamina, perseverance, physical fitness, strength, courage, honor, and commitment. My feelings were secondary and that was well understood by me and my shipmates. I have been literally eyeball to eyeball with the Soviets in the North Atlantic tracking a Yankee class submarine. Rest assured that former enemy had our full attention and our crew devoted no time to feelings. I have no doubt our current adversaries are just as potentially dangerous to our way of life as was the former Soviet Union. The Navy ought to focus on our real threats instead of touchy-feelie nonsense like sailors’ feelings. The Navy is a combat force whose job it is to break things and kill people when and where called upon to do so. Those whose personality or psyche demand constant attention to “feelings” probably ought to find something else to do...
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