Compass Points - Deadly DEI
Military needs quality professionals
September 25, 2024
marinecorpscompasspoints.substack.com
.
There has always been a friendly rivalry between the US Army and the US Marines. But friendly rivalry should never be allowed to deteriorate into poisonous enmity. Both services and the Nation benefit when the Army and the Marines are both strong and can multiply their strengths when accomplishing a mission together. In 1943 a new movie played at movie theaters across the United States and the movie introduced a new phrase to the American movie-going public. That phrase is still in wide use today.
The phrase from the 1943 movie is so powerful that today, decades after the movie, the famous phrase could help solve a problem facing all the military services. For example, several sources indicate that the Army today has some serious internal challenges. The challenges facing the Army should sound the alarm for Marines.
Author and West Point graduate Tony Lentini in two articles has detailed a roster of issues at West Point.
.
================
.
[My first article] also attracted the attention of West Point, which up to now has refused to discuss or even acknowledge serious graduate concerns over wokeness, politicization, divisive and battlefield-irrelevant course materials, merit-based admissions, and advancement, undermining of the cadet Honor Code, unanswered Freedom of Information Act filings and other such issues.
-- Tony Lentini
.
================
.
Lentini calls for more cooperation between the current West Point leaders and graduates.
.
================
.
The crux of the problem is that West Point brooks no discussion of divergent viewpoints and issues of concern to graduates. It simply stonewalls or, as in Col. Kelley’s case, engages in ad hominem attacks on those who dare to criticize the institution. I hereby formally request the opening of a dialogue among graduates and the Superintendent about needed reforms at the Academy.
-- Tony Lentini
.
================
.
Another author, John Deyermond, a retired Army Major General, has raised many of the same issues.
.
================
.
Today our military services face growing threats around the world while their ability to maintain a quality, well-trained, and capable force is at risk. Our focus should be on readiness, warfighting, and especially selecting the best qualified leaders possible . . . . Historically, our personnel systems have been built on merit, individual performance, and equal opportunity, aimed at selecting the best qualified.
Over the past several years that focus on merit has been replaced by a system built on a Marxist ideology we know as Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) and Critical Race Theory (CRT). The embrace of this divisive ideology by both our civilian and military leadership has had a significant negative impact on the Armed Forces. It has served to destroy unit cohesion, lower standards, and use race and gender to define outcomes. Even the West Points motto: Duty, Honor, Country, has been jettisoned from the school’s mission statement, all in the name of DEI.
-- John Deyermond
.
================
.
The problems at West Point should be a wake up call for Marines. Could a phrase from an old movie point the way forward? In 1943 a new movie hit the theaters, "Gung Ho!" The Story of Carlson's Makin Island Raiders." The Raider's Commanding Officer Evans F. Carlson had adopted the phrase from his travels in China. Carlson told his Marines, "Gung Ho" meant to work together, to work in harmony.
The phrase quickly spread throughout the Marine Corps and beyond. Gung Ho has become part of the strength of the Marines. Marines of every background can accomplish any mission by working together, by working in harmony. Marines should never be divided into bickering categories. Marines must work together.
The US today is sailing in perilous waters. There are rough waters ahead and storms we cannot yet see. To be prepared for the storms ahead the Army and Marines and all the armed services will need strong, serious, professional warriors. Now is the time to prepare for war. All other distractions must be set aside. Military members must be focused on military missions not drawn off course by divisive concepts and causes.
Compass Points salutes all those working together to overcome the challenges at West Point. No doubt the current Army leaders and graduates can make West Point stronger than it has ever been -- if they work together.
.
- - - - -
.
Real Clear Defense - 09/23/2024
West Point Needs a Reset, Part 2: In Their Own Words
By Tony Lentini
.
- - - - -
.
American Thinker - 09/21/2024
DEI: A cancer on the Armed Forces
By John Deyermond, Maj. Gen (ret.)
https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2024/09/dei_a_cancer_on_the_armed_forces.html
https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2024/09/26/a_serious_pentagon_must_hold_a_plucking_board_1060999.html?mc_cid=8c09bbad57
When you get 50 General Officers to back this claim, I might take this garbage more seriously. Today’s racist idiots love to use DEI and CRT to denigrate people of color and undermine the accomplishments of people of color. Give me a break…