Navy more focused on diversity training than potential China threat: report
A new report claims that members of the Navy are more focused on diversity training than on preparing to take on adversaries such as China.
At least one current officer and one recently departed sailor anonymously shared their concerns with investigators commissioned by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Reps. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).
“Sometimes I think we care more about whether we have enough diversity officers than if we’ll survive a fight with the Chinese navy,” said an active-duty Navy lieutenant.
“It’s criminal. They think my only value is as a black woman,” the lieutenant added. “But you cut our ship open with a missile and we’ll all bleed the same color.”
A recently retired “senior enlisted leader” told the investigators that “I guarantee you every unit in the Navy is up to speed on their diversity training. I’m sorry that I can’t say the same of their ship handling training.”
The Navy employs more than 300,000 people and it’s unclear if the views expressed in the 23-page report are representative of the force.
A Navy spokeswoman welcomed the report but did not address specific points of criticism in a statement to The Post.
“We welcome the insights and report findings, many of which are consistent with areas we have addressed and taken action on,” said Lt. Commander Patricia Kreuzberger.
“We look forward to continuing our work with Congress to ensure we have the most capable ships crewed by the most capable Sailors, as well as a surface force that is fit for the challenges of the 21st century.”
Cotton’s office published the report amid a national struggle over discussions about race in public institutions — with conservatives pushing back on what they say is an overemphasis on the legacy of discrimination and a focus on “diversity” of immutable characteristics such as race and gender.
Critics in particular have ridiculed US spy agencies and the military for pushing what they call a “woke” worldview and concepts rooted in Critical Race Theory, which describes race as the dominant factor in US history and current life.
Last month, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Pentagon’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, was roasted by Republicans for passionately linking “white rage” to the Jan. 6 storming of the US Capitol while he testified to a congressional committee.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in February ordered a “stand down” of the entire US military for commanders to address “extremism” in its ranks. During his confirmation hearings, Austin vowed to “rid our ranks of racists and extremists.”
Cotton and Crenshaw launched a whistleblower tip line in May for active military members to report “woke ideology” within “diversity training” programs.
Cotton tweeted in June that his tip line has received over 300 tips and that, “The problem is real — and worse than we thought.”
“We’ve received hundreds of whistleblower complaints about critical race theory being pushed on our soldiers,” the Arkansas senator wrote. “The problem is real — and worse than we thought.”
