Does a group’s racial or identity makeup improve its ability to kill people and break things?
Reportedly, General Mark Milley believes Yes — diversity, as it is often heralded, constitutes its own strength.
Several high-ranking generals appear to agree.
Speaking at a Howard University ROTC commissioning ceremony Wednesday, Gen. Mark called for necessary change.
The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff asserted the military needs more black Air Force pilots.
Additionally in short supply: black members among senior ranks.
He insisted, “We must get better.”
Mark ran down the numbers: When Gen. Charles Q. Brown — the Air Force’s current chief of staff — was promoted to second lieutenant in 1984, only 2% of Air Force pilots were black.
Fast-forward to 2021, and that number has risen to…2%.
As noted by Military.com, last summer, Charles made history: Heroically, he became the first black military service chief.
In a June video ruminating on George Floyd’sdeath and America’s outcry, the man emotionally recalled his challenges in life and the Air Force:
“[R]arely, I had a mentor that looked like me. … [M]ost of my mentors cannot relate to my experience as an African American. I’m thinking about the pressure I felt to perform…especially for supervisors I perceived had expected less of me as an African American. I’m thinking of having to represent by working twice as hard, to prove their expectations and perceptions of African Americans were invalid. “
“[M]y nomination provides some hope,” he said, “but also comes with a heavy burden. I can’t fix centuries of racism in our country, nor can I fix decades of discrimination that may have affected members of our Air Force.”
And how has that discrimination raised its head? Gen. Mark observed the military is roughly 20% black, but there are only 41 black four-star generals and admirals.
His conclusion:
“Opportunity in our military must be reflective of the diverse talent in order for us to remain strong. Our nation is ready to fulfill the promise of our Constitution to build a more perfect union and to ensure equal justice for all people…”
Mark issued a challenge to the ROTC cadets at Howard:
“[I]t is your generation that can and will bring the joint force to be truly inclusive of all people.”
The military is definitely working on it.
Inclusion’s on the docket, by way of social progress.