Pentagon's precious 'diversity' now affecting the SEALs

[nousdefions]

From Blackfive (http://www.blackfive.net/main/2010/11/pentagons-precious-diversity-now-affecting-the-seals.html)

The Navy Times reports that Naval Special Warfare is trying to boost the amount of minorities in the SEALs (http://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/11/navy-seal-diversity-110610w/):

The Naval Special Warfare Center is embarking on new marketing and awareness campaigns to reach more minority candidates who have the best odds of becoming Navy SEALs in the hope that those efforts will diversity the commando force.

The campaign is the latest move by Naval Special Warfare Command to boost its recruitment of minorities, particularly African-Americans, to attend the Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL course and follow-on SEAL Qualification Training and join the all-male community of special operators — one that historically has been largely white.

White... black... I thought SEALs were the men with green faces. In my experience, we all bleed red. How about the pencil-pushers at the Pentagon get it through their tiny heads that they should be in the business of finding the BEST men for the job rather than the most ethnically representative sample of society.

Naval Special Warfare Command hired three contractors for the diversity initiative, which will renew naval special warfare’s outreach to historically black colleges and universities; develop new marketing strategies that focus awareness, screening and recruiting efforts on minority communities; and develop research that identifies the traits of successful BUD/S candidates to hone recruiting.

“Each initiative has a different approach to get a candidate that we want. When you have a multifaceted approach, you start to mesh the different initiatives together to get more successful candidates,” Cmdr. Brodes Hartley, naval special warfare’s force diversity officer, said in a Navy Compass article.

This sounds like a massive investment in Fraud, Waste, and Abuse to me. A NSW "diversity officer?" Three diversity contractors? I wonder how much all this costs.

I can't speak for black SEALs, but if the Navy were going out of its way to recruit white SEALs, I would feel pretty insulted. Does the Pentagon think that blacks are so dumb that they have to launch an initiative to coax them into serving? Or perhaps they think blacks are too scared? Who the hell knows? (Actually, the article alludes to the racist stereotype that blacks can't swim)

The latest plan comes as top military leaders — including Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a former CNO — have spoken publicly about the importance of diversifying the military for the next generation, with diversity targets set for 2037.

Perhaps these Admirals could focus more on achieving victory in our war against the jihadists, and then they can move on to their social agendas.

To reach those goals within its senior officer ranks, naval special warfare must boost the number graduating and completing all BUD/S and SEAL Qualification Training by 15 or 16 minority officers and 40 to 50 sailors, the command wrote in the solicitation.

And just how do these diversity gurus propose we increase the minority SEALs, magic wands? Or would they be willing to utilize a double standard in order to keep up diversity requirements? And what if the military doesn't meet these requirements, would some Sonya Sotomayor wanna-be judge decide to freeze BUD/S because it was unfair to minorities like firefighters in New Haven, Conn., FDNY, and other cities nationwide? Or maybe they could institute a racist policy like the NFL's, where minority coaches have to be interviewed for a job (I would be VERY insulted if I knew I was only being interviewed to check off a box on a legal form). This nonsense is something we firefighters have to live with already; the SEALs shouldn't have to.

I think the United States and the free world in general would be better off if this puss-nut "diversity" program disappeared, and the money they are spending on this racist nonsense would be better spent on operational items.

:munchin:munchin:munchin

[The Reaper]

How about the NBA requires no less than 80% of all players to be white, to reflect the diversity of our society?

TR

[ZonieDiver]

How about the NBA requires no less than 80% of all players to be white, to reflect the diversity of our society?

TR

Yeah, and they can't all be from Eastern Europe!

[Dozer523]

We shouldn't be dealing with this issue at all!

And we wouldn't be if Robert De Nero hadn't carried Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Carl Maxie Brashear, USN (Ret.) through Salvage Diver School in 1953.

The United States Navy has a long and prestigious record of racial equality, harmony and equal opportunity.

Unfortunately, thanks to De Nero, we will never know for sure if Master Chief Boatswain's Mate Carl Maxie Brashear, USN (Ret.) would have attained the rank of Master Chief Boatswain's Mate if he had stayed on the mess deck where he belonged. But, I'm willing to bet . . .

GMAFB Photo below titled "Minority Seals". These studs look integrated to me. And those SEAL masks are soooo scary. total BS-stirring from Black Five again. Another reason why I don't go there.

[JimP]

Heck, all they have to do is to waive the swim test. Shouldn't be a problem. :D

[Richard]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qwEvLs6w28&p=DA01866B7C5E7F21&feature=BF&index=53

SSDD - and marketing for applicants does not mean changing/lowering standards.

I would think the STs might need a few more ffolkes who don't look like Dolph Lundgren playing CPT Ivan Drago to be able to best perform some of their current and future taskings.

I understand Charlie Sheen might be looking for a new gig soon. ;)

And so it goes...

Richard's $.02 :munchin

[lksteve]

I can't speak for black SEALs, but if the Navy were going out of its way to recruit white SEALs, I would feel pretty insulted. Does the Pentagon think that blacks are so dumb that they have to launch an initiative to coax them into serving? When I was a 2LT in 1/10 in Bad Toelz, I was assigned the additional duty of RR/EO officer...it went with the territory, along with being Mr. Vice at the Dining In...that said, I had to go to some touchy-feely training...Day 1, we are supposed to get up and introduce ourselves, say something about the racial make-up of our unit and outline our ideas for making the world and our unit a better, happier, friendlier place for peoples of all ethnic backgrounds and creeds to serve...lucky me...at the time, there were two blacks serving in 1/10...the Battalion Medic, and the Senior Medic on ODA-8, the same team I was the XO of...oddly, SFD(A)E had their own RR/EO officer, a black guy, and they had a more diverse population as well...be that as it may, I noticed one thing almost immediately...I was the only white male officer in the room...there were a couple of white females in attendance, a few black women, but for the most part, of the 30 or 40 of us gathered in Vilseck that day, I was the only male white officer...and the unit I represented was 97% white, only 1% black...before I could finish my introduction, folks got angry, insulting and attempted to shout me down.."Why aren't there more blacks in SF...why is this allowed to exist..." Blah, blah, blah...not so tactifully, I told the group at large to be quiet and I'd do my best to answer that question...I briefly explained the training, that while in SFTG the branch chiefs were a very large black guy, (my FAC was also black), Phase II was a Filipino MSG, and Phase III was another black guy...I was pretty sure there wasn't overt racism in so far as I could tell when it came to getting through training...when asked in a more civil tone why there weren't more blacks in SF, I told the group that it seemed to me the only folks really upset by it were RR/EO folks in the class...maybe they should ask themselves...a verbal riot ensued...a black LTC, OIC of the RR/EO training pulled me aside as the "class" degenerated into chaos and told me that he understood where I was coming from, but perhaps it would be better if I returned to my unit, as from what he could tell, and from the records of complaints he had (none), maybe we didn't have a problem...he called the BC in advance, thanked them for my attendance, and the group went back to whatever they do in those "classes"...

[The Reaper]

Demographics is the answer. Marketing is not going to do the job. That is already maxed out.

For four years, I interviewed nearly every minority candidate still at SFAS on selection day.

After four years, I had zero complaints of racism against the cadre. Okay, one bitched that the company chain of command was prejudiced, till he met the black Company Commander, who told him what a disgrace he was.

Look at our target audience we are trying to reach. There is a very small number of minority soldiers who want to be combat arms in the first place, much less SF.

The people we are looking for are male HS grads, minimum, with clean legal records, able to obtain a minimum of a Secret clearance, strong swimmers, no significant personality disorders, above average intelligence, comfortable in the woods, day and night, alone or with others, physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared, free from drug and alcohol problems, with an aptitude for languages, preferably a foreign language speaker already, no financial issues, airborne or willing to be airborne, etc., etc.

Minorities with these quals are in very high demand, especially outside the military.

Some of the best SF soldiers I ever served with are black. I think any minorities who want to be SF and who meet the standards, succeed at a rate equal to or better than white candidates.

The recruiters have been told to keep an eye out for potential minority 18Xs, and they do. The 18X program was intended to bring more minorities into SF. I think the qualified ones make it, and I am proud to serve with my fellow SF soldiers of any race or ethnicity.

Just my .02 and experience, YMMV.

TR

[monsterhunter]

Interesting thoughts on the issue. In a somewhat related thought, I began to wonder why I've rarely ever seen a black surfer. Being in So Cal, I've spent a lot of time at the beach.

A quick Google search led me to the Black Surfing Association (BSA) http://www.blacksurfingassociation.com/. Here is a paraphrased quote, "From the need for companionship, commorodary [sic], and socialization on a path shared by so few of our own..." Further into the site it mentions little black representation in hockey, golf, and a few other sports.

It seems to me that in order to get more folks into anything. There must first be a will and an interest. But placing mandatory percentages on graduating classes? My department did it in order to promote more women to the rank of sergeant or any other "coveted" positions. The only way to get the numbers you need (and currently don't have) is to lower the standards. Even then we can't always get the number and have to go to a special board for a waiver.

[aegisnavy]

While at the boat school, IIRC, I would estimate that approximately 80% of black midshipmen struggled with the basic swim test. They kicked a** in everything else, (especially a classmate who cleaned my clock in boxing-I woke up staring at the ceiling in the boxing gym wondering WTH?!?) Anecdotally, I knew that for a few, when they entered the pool at USNA, it was the first time in their life. My plebe year roommate, who was black, struggled as well, but he was just a lousy swimmer like me ;)

The one exception that I knew personally of was on the diving team. Oh yeah, he became a SEAL.

[kawaishi]

I been training with a friend since January when he signed up for bud/s. We swim at a health club that has lots of black and white patrons and we also use the university pool which is available to a very diverse student population. I can't recall seeing a black swimmer in the lanes who wasn't an adult learning how to swim. I think it starts at the family pool where I see lots of white parents bringing their babies into the water which I haven't seen any black parents doing. In fact, out of eleven months of swimming four to five days a week I've seen many more asians and arabs than blacks getting in the water. There is no comparison between the small asian and arab populations and the large black population down here. At the same facilities we work out on the track and in the weight room with lots of black athletes. I think that many of them just choose not to swim whether it's their cultural influence or personal preference.

[Dozer523]

I been training with a friend . . .
. . . I think that many of them just choose not to swim whether it's their cultural influence or personal preference. Yeah, well I have a friend who grew up on the wrong side of the segregated south and he NEVER wanted to swim in the 'Whites Only" public pool.

That's cuz at night, he and his friends climbed the fence and pissed in it. He says there are occasions when he misses the "good old days".

[Guy]

I would've terminated!:D No problem with water however, the COLD is painful!:eek:

I'll never forget that ass chewing I took when, some HEMF came up with the bright idea of scrubbing the SF swim test...I just couldn't hold it in.:cool:

Stay safe.

[kgoerz]

The number of Blacks in MLB has declined dramatically in years. It's easy to put up a Basketball court and walk away. Little league takes money and Parent involvement. Little league programs are at an all time low in the inner cities. This was all brought up on a recent ESPN special covering the decline of black MLB players.

[Richard]

I'll never forget that ass chewing I took when, some HEMF came up with the bright idea of scrubbing the SF swim test...

The more things change...:rolleyes:

They did waive the swim test at one point in the mid-to-late-60s - discovered pretty quickly that it was a mistake and reinstated it as a non-waiverable requirement.

Also, swimming is one thing, combat diving is another - I saw many good swimmers who found they lacked the physical or mental requirements required of a combat diver.

And so it goes...;)

Richard :munchin

[bost1751]

lksteve: there was another black medic on ODA 6. John McCray was our jr medic. He had been out for a couple of years after VN and then came back in so he was an E5 at the time.

[lksteve]

I would've terminatednah....you would have been another square toed yodeler like the rest of us...:p

[Dragbag036]

Hey I'm late to this party, but I have 21 years in the Army and started my quest to be a QP in 1997. Before that, I have had more blacks tell me that I couldn't do something like Ranger or SF than any other White person. The problem starts with the idea that the "White Man" only wants us as cannon fodder is part of it. In history our Blacks wanted to fight to prove that this country is just as much theirs as it is any other man. Somewhere minority children were taught that they should be something else in the military, and that Infantry was meant to kill off minorities.

I grew up in Texas, in South Dallas. I know what inner city swimming pools look like. A bunch of kids trying to cool off in a over crowded pool. the majority, 98%, are in the shallow water, if you could "swim", the deep end was free. I too have visited the EO class in Vilseck, Germany when I was still an 18B, at the request of another QP in attendance. I was asked to leave because when asked why their were not more Blacks in SF, My reply was "because Blacks cant swim". Can I say that I'm a bit rare, I think so, but I come from a family of "black swimmers". My two uncles, who were Marines in Nam' and my father, 25th ID, all taught my cousin and I to swim by throwing us in the deep pool.

I would wish all the people sitting behind a desk would shut the F**k up. Everybody can't be special. If you can't make the prerequisite, then its not for you. I do not want someone to look at me or my son one day and say "he must have been waived". Everything worth doing, is worth the pain and struggle that comes with it. And at the end of the day, I can look in the mirror and be proud of the man I have become and still trying to be. No one looks at a White guy and wonders if he can frickin swim, but I have seen a few who can't. Let me guess, the ones that think this crap up have not even walked in the shoes of those they are forcing this crap on.

When I was still in the regular army, I had a White Platoon Sgt, who asked me, "DB would you like to be placed in a position of authority because of the color of your skin, or because you are the right man for the job?" My reply was simple "If I'm not the guy for the job, or I am not ready yet, then let me learn from whomever, White, Black, Mexican". I got that Squad Leader spot. Ranger School 1994, Desert Phase, "Ranger you are being counseled on your peer eval, do you feel that you are being discriminated on?" My reply "No, I am being Rangered, you put me in a squad with all Bat Boys, I would do the same if I were them, someone has to be low". I went on to the next Phase.

Everybody needs to get over themselves and think about doing something good for this country, and stop worrying about being F**king PC.

And Guy....I love the cold. I was in 1-10 in 98, when you could count on 1 hand how many "black" tabbed guys were there. I didn't have any problems. Back then it was MAJ Rehorn, who called me in his office and told me if I had any problem because of my race, his door was open. I never had a problem. And still don't to this day.

DB's .000002 cents

[Richard]

I grew up in Texas, in South Dallas.

SOC or The Grove, DB? :confused:

I taught in The Grove and DBs pool observations are pretty much the norm around there. Unfortunately, with the current fiscal situation here as with many cities, those facilities and others throughout the city are either being closed or open for public use less and less with the passing of time and deepening budget cutbacks.

And OBTW - NOBODY {voluntarily ;) } swims in the Trinity! :eek:

Richard :munchin

[Buffalobob]

Hey I'm late to this party, but I have 21 years in the Army and started my quest to be a QP in 1997. Before that, I have had more blacks tell me that I couldn't do something like Ranger or SF than any other White person. The problem starts with the idea that the "White Man" only wants us as cannon fodder is part of it. In history our Blacks wanted to fight to prove that this country is just as much theirs as it is any other man. Somewhere minority children were taught that they should be something else in the military, and that Infantry was meant to kill off minorities.

The draft for Vietnam was extremely hard on minorities because they had no political connections to get into the Nat'l Guard, no money to go to college to get a deferment, etc. etc. A lot of racial problems in the units in RVN concerning combat and noncombat status. I suspect that period of history has carried over into todays' attitudes.

When I went to my son's graduation from Infantry school last year I was astounded at the skewedness of the racial issue. I do not know how it is in other branches.

[Richard]

The draft for Vietnam was extremely hard on minorities because they had no political connections to get into the Nat'l Guard, no money to go to college to get a deferment, etc. etc. A lot of racial problems in the units in RVN concerning combat and noncombat status. I suspect that period of history has carried over into todays' attitudes.

When I went to my son's graduation from Infantry school last year I was astounded at the skewedness of the racial issue. I do not know how it is in other branches.

I would suspect that the focus of the DOD's primary recruiting message to 'join the military to learn a civilian-related technical skill and a college degree' over the last three decades or so has had a huge impact on the matter.

Richard's $.02 :munchin

[Dragbag036]

SOC or The Grove, DB? :confused:

I taught in The Grove and DBs pool observations are pretty much the norm around there. Unfortunately, with the current fiscal situation here as with many cities, those facilities and others throughout the city are either being closed or open for public use less and less with the passing of time and deepening budget cutbacks.

And OBTW - NOBODY {voluntarily ;) } swims in the Trinity! :eek:

Richard :munchin

South Oak Cliff. I went to elementary and middle school on Idaho, and Jr. High at O.W. Holmes. My parents now live a stones throw to The Grove or maybe in it. There use to be some parts of The Grove where we had family that looked like you were in the country.

[Guy]

Stay safe.

[rdret1]

I believe you will see some undeserving candidates slip through the system all in the name of racial diversity.

You see some of every race.

[Old Dog New Trick]

I would suspect that the focus of the DOD's primary recruiting message to 'join the military to learn a civilian-related technical skill and a college degree' over the last three decades or so has had a huge impact on the matter.

Richard's $.02 :munchin

Nail meet Hammer.

I served from 1980-2002, and can attest that this statement is probably more in line with any truth to the matter than any affirmative action plan the military could have tried during those years.

The majority of minorities came from inner city neighborhoods and most had either dropped out of school or barely finished high school (this is not a slam on them, I'm a white guy who dropped out of the twelfth grade because school was f'd up in a semi rich county of So Cal.) Many of the minority soldiers took jobs that had a future after the service, while many of the white kids took jobs with adventure and childhood ideals to play soldier but had family money or education opportunities to fall back on after being Rambo for a few years. Some of us just stayed and got educated in the service and called it a career.

Likewise, most of us here know, SF or SOF isn't something you do or wish to do. It's a calling that few will understand and even less will actually achieve. Some, quite a few of the minorities in Group came from their native countries to join SF after having been exposed to one somewhere along the way. At the time they first had to join the regular Army or Navy and work their way into it.

I applaud every single person regardless of race, or nationality who puts it all on the line to be the very best at what they are. High Command and PC administrators will never get this, they just count beans and devise plans to even the playing field.

It's not hard to learn how to swim but you gotta want to at any age.

I loved water at the age two-months if you ask my parents, I sank well to the bottom of my Aunts swimming pool. After that my parents taught me to swim and I never stopped. Although military swimming is kinda like military sky diving, eventually they take the fun out it. :D

[Monsoon65]

I wish I could remember the title of the book, but I read it years ago. They were discussing Ranger units in Vietnam and they mentioned the lack of black Rangers.

They said it wasn't due to bravery, since the Airborne had many. The only reason most former Rangers could think of was a swim test, and that the blacks, most from the inner city, didn't have access to pools/lakes/etc.

[greenberetTFS]

Well,PTSD has finally hit Demi Moore,nearly 15-20 years after her discharge from the SEALS,she's had her breakdown!....:boohoo That SEALS training must have been pretty rough considering she's first now at the VA claiming her eligibility and requesting her compensation...........:eek: She really is a mess,saw her picture in National Enquirer,just another good reason why gals should not go the SOC route,you'll never know when it'll hit you.........:rolleyes:

Big Teddy :munchin

[Guymullins]

I been training with a friend since January when he signed up for bud/s. We swim at a health club that has lots of black and white patrons and we also use the university pool which is available to a very diverse student population. I can't recall seeing a black swimmer in the lanes who wasn't an adult learning how to swim. I think it starts at the family pool where I see lots of white parents bringing their babies into the water which I haven't seen any black parents doing. In fact, out of eleven months of swimming four to five days a week I've seen many more asians and arabs than blacks getting in the water. There is no comparison between the small asian and arab populations and the large black population down here. At the same facilities we work out on the track and in the weight room with lots of black athletes. I think that many of them just choose not to swim whether it's their cultural influence or personal preference.

Using American terminology, our African-African people have , over the centuries, found that it is the dumb ones who try to swim. A story in todays newspaper to illustrate why.

Man fights crocodile with panga
2012-02-25 12:10
Johannesburg - A Tzaneen field ranger may lose his leg after saving a colleague from the jaws of a crocodile, according to a report on Saturday.
"I heard terrible screaming," recalled Norman Chiwawu, 27, who jumped into the Mogalakwena River on Monday afternoon after spotting his colleague, only known as Knowledge, being thrashed around in the water.
He attacked the reptile with a panga and it let go of the man, reported Beeld newspaper.
But it then turned on Chiwawu.
"I was on my way back to the river bank, when I heard a 'click' sound, as the crocodile put its jaws around my leg."
Chiwawu managed to hold on to a reed with one hand and pushed the crocodile away with his other hand, before pulling himself onto an island. He tried to stop the bleeding on his leg with his T-shirt.
By that time, workers had called one of the directors of the Mogalakwena Nature Reserve, Christiaan Coetsee, who ventured into the river himself with a shotgun and swam out with Chiwawu on his back.
"People say I am a hero, but I am a hero who may lose his leg," Chiwawu said from the Tzaneen Medi-Clinic.
NB. A panga is a machete and the shotgun weilding fellow was a European-African.

[Sigaba]

I think that many of them just choose not to swim whether it's their cultural influence or personal preference.Of course, the social and legal history of America has nothing to do whatsoever with the choices people make.<<LINK (http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/cgi-bin/getcase.pl?court=us&vol=403&invol=217)>>

[Peregrino]

Sigaba - Is the information in the lower right side of your photo a date? That seems a long time ago to me. Even if we move forward to forced desegragation Blacks have had two + generations to get beyond the handicaps inflicted on them. Some have, many have not. At some point it's a personal choice; Blacks cannot keep blaming Whitey forever.

[greenberetTFS]

Back in the day(1955) my best buddy Floinoy(Cleveland-inter city) and I (Chicago-SW side) volunteered for SF (77th SFG) together.......:cool: We went to town together,walked the streets in town together and once we encountered some young high school punks about 6 of them who told Floinoy to get off the sidewalk and onto the street when they attempted to pass us by...............:rolleyes: We told them to go f**k themselves and stood our ground,those chicken shit a**holes backed down and yeah we could have gotten into trouble over this,but after all what are best buds really about if not like covering each others ass's when you need too...:eek: We couldn't go out for drinks,or see a movie,or make out with broads together at that time but that never stopped us for still being "Best Buds"............;)

Big Teddy