Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer stands firm in his decision to prioritize merit over diversity in leadership selections, marking a significant shift in Army policy.
SMA Weimer Prioritizes Merit Over Diversity in Army Leadership
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer recently made headlines for removing diversity considerations in the selection process for top noncommissioned officer roles, including Command Sergeants Major. This decision, detailed in a new guidance memo, reflects a shift away from previous efforts to ensure that leadership represents the diverse makeup of the Army’s formations.
I’d say it’s about damn time. It’s also not surprising coming from a former Delta Force Operator. Let’s hope this marks the beginning of the end of the woke Army. For far too long, warfighting has taken a backseat to political progressivism and Weimer is just the man to put a halt to that.
Weimer’s guidance marks a significant change from his predecessor’s policies, which emphasized diversity as a key factor in promotions. The removed line specifically suggested that diversity should be considered to ensure leaders represented the makeup of the Army.
The text that Weimer cut reads verbatim: “consider diversity to ensure leaders represent our formations.”
This move follows ongoing criticism from conservative lawmakers who argue that the military has focused too much on progressive initiatives, such as diversity and inclusion, at the expense of warfighting readiness. These critics have called for a return to merit-based promotions prioritizing combat effectiveness over demographic considerations.
This shift also coincides with other recent changes within the Army under Weimer’s leadership. Earlier in 2024, the Army delisted its horrid “The Calling” ad campaign from YouTube, featuring soldiers from diverse backgrounds to attract new recruits. The “People First” slogan, which focused on supporting soldier and family needs while promoting diversity, has also been replaced. Despite removing explicit diversity requirements, Weimer’s office has not provided detailed comments on the reasoning behind the decision.
If you have any doubts whatsoever exactly why SMA Weimer got rid of the “The Calling” marketing campaign, check out the ad below.
SMA Weimer Prioritizes Merit Over Diversity in Army Leadership
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer recently made headlines for removing diversity considerations in the selection process for top noncommissioned officer roles, including Command Sergeants Major. This decision, detailed in a new guidance memo, reflects a shift away from previous efforts to ensure that leadership represents the diverse makeup of the Army’s formations.
I’d say it’s about damn time. It’s also not surprising coming from a former Delta Force Operator. Let’s hope this marks the beginning of the end of the woke Army. For far too long, warfighting has taken a backseat to political progressivism and Weimer is just the man to put a halt to that.
Weimer’s guidance marks a significant change from his predecessor’s policies, which emphasized diversity as a key factor in promotions. The removed line specifically suggested that diversity should be considered to ensure leaders represented the makeup of the Army.
The text that Weimer cut reads verbatim: “consider diversity to ensure leaders represent our formations.”
This move follows ongoing criticism from conservative lawmakers who argue that the military has focused too much on progressive initiatives, such as diversity and inclusion, at the expense of warfighting readiness. These critics have called for a return to merit-based promotions prioritizing combat effectiveness over demographic considerations.
This shift also coincides with other recent changes within the Army under Weimer’s leadership. Earlier in 2024, the Army delisted its horrid “The Calling” ad campaign from YouTube, featuring soldiers from diverse backgrounds to attract new recruits. The “People First” slogan, which focused on supporting soldier and family needs while promoting diversity, has also been replaced. Despite removing explicit diversity requirements, Weimer’s office has not provided detailed comments on the reasoning behind the decision.
If you have any doubts whatsoever exactly why SMA Weimer got rid of the “The Calling” marketing campaign, check out the ad below.
Now is probably a good time to interject and say that I don’t care if you have two moms or four moms. That’s not what this is about. It’s about putting the emphasis back on individual merit and abilities. I’ve worked with gay soldiers, straight soldiers, and soldiers with skin every color of the rainbow. By and large, most of them were fantastically capable professionals, regardless of their backgrounds and preferences. If they weren’t, it certainly wasn’t about their skin color or who raised them; it was an individual thing.
I remember once at an Army MEDDAC when I was assigned a new doctor. He was going over my paperwork when he glanced up at me, took a look at my paperwork again, and looked at me again with a quizzical look on his face. He asked me, “What are you?” Not knowing what he meant, I shot back, “What do you mean, sir?”. He asked again, “Your ethnic background?” All I could think of to say was, “I’m an American, sir.” He laughed a little bit at that before I told him I was half Sicilian and half Scots-Irish with a little German mixed in for good measure.
SMA Weimer is simply focusing on what matters. What does it take to get the job done? What makes a good warfighter? When the shit hits the fan, are you going to have your brother’s (or sister’s) back?
The broader debate over diversity in military ranks continues as Congress addresses these issues in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act. The act aims to focus on merit-based promotions while allowing room for diversity considerations, although not mandating them. This move is part of a broader effort to recalibrate the Army’s focus on combat readiness and discipline under its new leadership.
In the end, the Army’s mission is clear: build a force of warriors who can fight and win, regardless of background, because when bullets fly, it’s not diversity that matters-it’s the soldier next to you who’s trained, capable, and ready to take on the enemy.
Disclaimer: SOFREP utilizes AI for image generation and article research. Occasionally, it’s like handing a chimpanzee the keys to your liquor cabinet. It’s not always perfect and if a mistake is made, we own up to it full stop. In a world where information comes at us in tidal waves, it is an important tool that helps us sift through the brass for live rounds.
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