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DoD diversity policies under fire from critics
Critics of the DoD have issued a study urging the military to abandon efforts focused on diversity policies, combat extremism, and combat climate. The study cites the Pentagon’s support for CRT programs and accuses it of decreasing physical fitness requirements.
Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, has produced a report advocating for the military to abandon diversity policies, fight extremism, and resist climate change. The report reveals that the Biden government’s policy proposals have harmed the military’s capabilities and eroded service members’ trust, and criticizes the Pentagon’s endorsement of critical race theory (CRT), which argues that racism is rooted in policies and institutions.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Pentagon Critics Blame Diversity Policies and Fitness Standards for Recruiting Woes <a href="https://t.co/rbXsmZ21vK">https://t.co/rbXsmZ21vK</a></p>— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/Militarydotcom/status/1641611604243390464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Waltz suggested that teachings that divide people, like CRT, should not be taught or spread. However, he admitted that such teachings are not always identified as such in the military. The report indicated that even though there are no explicitly labeled programs or policies related to CRT, its principles are being taught and put into practice through policy actions.
Pentagon officials argue that there is no proof that such programs are affecting the military’s ability to prepare for combat or deterring potential recruits. In fact, they believe that these programs make the military stronger.
The Heritage Foundation’s research expressed worry about decreasing physical fitness criteria to ‘level the playing field,’ mentioning the new Army Combat Fitness Test. The research shows that decreasing the minimum physical fitness criteria due to concerns that women might not succeed has potentially harmed recruiting.
The new test, which also measures deadlifts, hand-release push-ups, how long a soldier can grab a plank, a timed two-mile run, an event in which soldiers sprint and carry heavy weight, and a third in which soldiers throw a 10-pound medicine ball wherever people can, is deemed a better quantification of fitness.
A survey of soldiers and civilians that was part of Heritage research showed nearly 70% of active-duty members believed that lowering physical fitness requirements to “level the playing field” had eroded their faith in the military. In comparison to other national polls, Heritage surveyed 1,000 Americans of all ages and 299 more Americans aged 18 to 24, but only 301 service members were surveyed.
The survey found that sexual assault in the military is the leading cause of adult distrust in the United States. Former Marine Corps lawyer Mike Berry argues that young people are indeed being persuaded that the Country is not worth sacrificing for.
