The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team performs stunts for the crowd during the open house and air show at Andrews Air Force Base outside Washington on Sunday, May 22, 2011. (The Washington Times)
Washington Times: Air Force Thunderbirds too male, too white, top general warns
The Air Force’s vaunted Thunderbirds jet fighter aerobatics team is not diverse enough inside the cockpit.
Brig. Gen. Christopher M. Short, commander of the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, said in an email last month that of 15 pilot applicants for three openings, 14 are white.
He asked fighter wing commanders to stir up more candidates who “don’t necessarily look like each of you.” He bemoaned the fact that, not only is there a lack of diversity, but the number of applicants to make the world-famous team has taken a puzzling drop in the past two years.
“I am asking for your help in finding the right pilots for next year’s Thunderbirds team,” is how Gen. Short begins his email.
“While we have several qualified candidates that many of you submitted, I am lacking the depth in talent we’ve seen in previous years and I am lacking in diversity of gender, ethnicity and [aircraft type] background,” Gen. Short wrote.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: The PC culture is in full swing.
18 comments:
Skin color makes ethnicity don'cha know.
The United States faces existential threats on so many fronts it is hard to even keep count. While it can be debated as to whether or not the United States "created" these threats through its own misguided past actions, the fact remains these existential threats exist today and have to be dealt with. It is very likely that at no time in history has a nation/state faced as many of a wide variety of threats the United States currently faces today.
In such an environment, we need the best regardless of skin color or sex. It is foolhardy in the extreme to be factoring in skin color or sex of the individuals involved in this situation. Given the current dire situation America faces in terms of national security threats, the budgetary situation, and the lack of trained fighter and bomber pilots, do we really even need to spend resources on an "aerobatics team?" I would think not.
Well, uhh, ok. As long as they don't let Japanese in. Everybody knows they can't fly because they were carried around on their mothers' backs as babies.
I mean, if policies rooted in ill thought out presumptions are going to be enacted, they might as well go whole hog. There are all kinds of historical precedents.
This kind of tokenism does not address issues around gender and ethnicity. It just creates fodder for those who see identity politics as a better alternative to an honest day's labour.
They are used for recruitment. .hence you need diversity
Oh boy he must be a marvel fan
"They are used for recruitment. .hence you need diversity"
Now THAT'S a good answer!
You also need the best pilots. If the focus is to much on "diversity" as it usually is these days, one ends up undercutting the goal of recruitment. In order to get the best and to achieve the best, people need to believe and it needs to be supported at all levels of the organization that the best will be promoted and the best will not be passed over because of something ridiculous like "diversity." This would mean that if African-American females were the best applicants, they would get these positions.
In order to work as a recruitment tool, it needs to be understood the best applicants get these positions. Such a policy of pushing for "diversity" will only undermine recruiting and put the USAF at an even greater disadvantage than it is already in as it becomes more challenging to recruit properly skilled personnel.
As a tool to help the military recruit good personnel, such tactics have negative utility. As a tool for those who profit from race identity politics and wish to undermine America's military preparedness and capability, pushing "diversity" works quite well. It's sad that the general has allowed himself to become a tool for such people.
Whose the "idiot?" Certainly not me. I raise very salient and well thought out points. I know from experience that any time "diversity" is pushed over "merit", we end up with less merit and less diversity. When diversity is pushed over merit, we end up with an organization full of incompetents who have their incompetence in common. When merit and achievement are the overriding concerns, we end up with a much more diverse organization, morale is increased, and team camaraderie is also enhanced.
I don't think the drive by comment was aimed at you,
But, the Thunderbirds are not to quote from "Men in Black", the best of the best of the best, Sir!
That would be the DACT Instructors, ( Dissimilar Air Combat Training, the USAF version of Top Gun).
They are simply a Advertising/Recruiting tool.
To qualify for Thunderbirds selection you just need to be a qualified USAF pilot with sufficient hours, in F-16's, and be nominated by your Squadron Commander. Because of the personal publicity that Thunderbirds get, the nomination process is a version of being a "Teacher's Pet", which explains, given the Institutional bias of the USAF,
Why the nominees are all White, Male, Fundi Christian F-15 Pilots.
White Catholic male F-16 pilots need not apply.
African American Baptist ( any gender) A-10 Pilots need not apply, (God forbid some Podunk Journalist doing a fluff piece discovers that one of the Thunderbirds is an A-10 combat veteran).
Jay,
Thanks for the additional info on the Thunderbirds. Actually prior to this post by the editor I had heard/seen very little about them.
Frankly the best recruiting tool would be to formulate national wecurity policies that maximize the potential of the US military to defend the nation. At this point, the best I can say about the current military posture is fundamentally flawed. To elaborate risks getting further off topic.
Given these misguided policies, it's not hard to understand why the US military accross all branches is having trouble finding and retaining quality personnel. Until the policies are changed it seems it is going to make no difference regardless how the Thunderbirds select their personnel.
I think I do recall reading somewhere on what an honor it was/is to be selected to the Thunderbirds. Of course this may have been a puff piece.
"I think I do recall reading somewhere on what an honor it was/is to be selected to the Thunderbirds. Of course this may have been a puff piece."
It is, it means that your Squadron Commander views you as the most personable, photogenic, White Male Fundi Christian F-15 Driver in the whole squadron,
And the selection process doesn't even involve a bathing suit competition.
Once selected, you go through T-Birds School, lots of hours of flight time, stunt flying and formation maneuvers that if you did it on your own, back at the Squadron, your Air Boss would have you grounded,
Then, if you pass, lots of promo's, fluff pieces, flying time and photo ops.
Sure beats an airconditioned container in Kuwait, no chicks, no booze and combat missions where if you crash, of have to bail out, they will stick you in an orange jump suit and slowly as possible, saw your head off.
Jay,
Actually they generally don't like white males in leadership positions in tne US military and they especially hate fundis as you call them. The military like other US govetnment agencies has declared a low grade war against white males and an all out war against fundi Christians as you seem to call them. In this environment
, if the Thunderbirds are STILL fundamentally white male , this must mean the dire straits of the US military is even worse than I thought and white males in America especially Christian ones enjoy being abused even more than I thought.
I agree such an assignment beats the situation in Kuwait you mention. As for the chicks and booze, most US military personnel are far to disciplined and, if married, loyal to tbeir wives or, if in a committed relatuonship, to loyal to their girlfriends to focus on the chicks. Furthermore they understand the "chicks" are often sent by America's enemies to ensnare them. Additionally they understand tbat booze is a distraction that undermines their focus, makes them more vundrable to attack, and is often planted by enemies to destroy them. This applies to the men not in committed relationships as well. They know the eneny's snare on this.
The military has enough problems already. To give in to booze and chicks for even five minutes on any level would mean tbeir deztruction. Very respectfully I think you have watched to many movies and swallowed to much anti-American propaganda. Again, very reslectfully 95% of Americans understand the movies are completely ridiculous and they've been taught to much self hatred which is generally embraced to offer a coherent resistance to the propaganda.
1) you havn't been keeping up to speed on the current crop of Gender, Racial and Religious Scandals in the USAF and the USAF Academy,
Of the current crop of USAF Generals, out of 42, 2 are African American, (Vice COS, Air Training), 2 are Women, (PAC Air , AMC), the rest are white, male, Christian Fundimentalists,
2) you also seem to be unaware of the Long and continued history of the Fighter Mafia and fighter jock culture in the USAF, the sex scandals that result, and the high divorce rate,
3) You seem to be unaware that US bases in the ME, are in countries who's culture and religion ban booze and bikini's, even though they have great beaches. Compared to a FMETM to Israel, Germany, Canada, Britian, Australia, where you get to embed with those Nations Airforces, similar postings to the Gulf States are considered "hardship posts" and come with pay incentives and frequent leaves back to the US or to more "hospitable" countries.
Jay,
1.)I try to keep up with this sort of thing. I'm pretty much aware of this sort of this. You have not shared anything I did not already know. As for the two women, women generally lack physical capabilities that men have and they tend to be to emotional for such positions. The fact that two of them overcame this is very impressive. Furthermore most women do not even want such positions. As for African Americans, the military has pulled out all stops to advance them as has American society. To have only two people in the positions of General speaks of extraordinary incompetence on their pars in spite of having the deck stacked in their favor to the point it is so ridiculous that no group in human history has had advancement before them as easy as these people currently have.
As for Christian fundamentalists, the military and the government hate them. Most of such people also hate the government and simply want to be left alone. As for the military, at the end of day, competence needs to rule and such people tend to be the most dedicated and competent on earth sacrificing their own interests to benefit others. This is the kind of characteristics one would look for in a leader and an officer. These people exemplify such characteristics in the extreme to the point they seem to get a perverse thrill out of being flogged for the benefit of the powers that be.
2.) The high divorce rate is the result of the women asking for divorce. A better job could be done by the US government of helping the civilians back home. Of course this would mean the American government would need to support its military personnel which has not happened to the degree it needs to. The men are very devoted to their wives and girlfriends and will not endanger this.
3.) The bases in the ME are hardship posts because to be posted there means a risk of death at any moment. The same applies to Israel. Men are not going to risk their lives for a little temporary booze, bikinis, or illicit sex in any of the countries you mention or Israel. Even if they were inclined to do so, such men are to devoted to their wives and girlfriends to do so. Very respectfully how little you understand the United States military.
While a good beach is nice, any member of the US armed forces in any branch especially the air force can never enjoy this in the manner a civilian can as there are always enemies gunning for him no matter where he is.
1). you havn't been paying attention
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/03/2013313141640411792.html
2). The high divirce rate is due to the high levels of adultery by serving USAF personel, and it's actually higher at home, than for the deployed.
3) Most USAF personel are not married, nor are they in long term committed relationships.
Jay,
1.) I pay close attention. As one who lives and works in America, very respectfully I have a perspective you don't have. While my perspective is unfiltered by the media, ideology, or distortions provided by the elites yours isn't. So far the link provided for the Aljazeera website has not worked. I will keep trying as I'd like the full context. With that said most Americans understand Aljazeera is an enemy of America and is not to be trusted. To achieve this distinction among a self hating populace like America is takes quite some doing!! In fact, there main network got canceled, as I understand it. To achieve this dubious distinction among arguably the most self hating populace on earth was indeed quite a dubious distinction!! What I do know is the advertising for Aljazeera was unprecedented and Americans flocked in droves to watch it when it came out wanting it to succeed and become as famous as CNN or FOX News yet it could not. I must say quite a dubious accomplishment especially when the US government tried to do all it could to ensure it's success. While I'm skeptical, I will continue trying the link.
The link appears to be form 2013!! With all due respect the US media lives to destroy IS military personnel. As such, I'm petty sure the "scoop" has been well analyzed and picked apart by now.
2.) This is what the media or your elitist contacts have told you. I'd suggest taking the time to actually get to know such personnel. They all understand that such elicit contacts could be the enemy and they know their government will NOT back them and their government will be more than happy to destroy them at any opportunity. This is part of the reason the morale of American military personnel is low. Furthermore they realize they could be involved in long range relationships at some point in the future and most are not going to endanger this with a short term fling.
3.) They are not going to tell you about their long range relationships or marriages as they do not want to endanger their spouses or significant others. Since they will not tell you about this, I think it self explanatory why they will not tell Aljazeera about it!! Again, I'd suggest actually getting to know these people as I have instead of relying on the media or your elitist contacts in America, very respectfully.
I think we can agree that an aerobatics wing of the US Air Force is a waste of time and money and such stunts while on active duty would result in grounding of the pilot. Furthermore most USAF pilots while likely capable of such stunts would not dare attempt it as this risks damaging multi billion dollar equipment they have been entrusted to.
Anyone who would risk such expensive equipment in the pursuit of stunts perhaps is a different sort who should not be trusteed. Maybe this is why no military pilot I've known has had anything positive to say about this group. I'm pretty sure we can agree there is a better way to spend money than on the Thunderbirds.
BS,
"Actually, prior to this post by The Editor I had seen/ heard very little about them."
Googling USAF Thunderbirds provides over 3,650,000 hits in just the last three months.
They do NASCAR, the Superbowl, and roughly 1/4 of the NFL games.
They beat the Navy's Blue Angels by about 50% for News and Media coverage in the US.
Let the best candidates get the positions regardless of race or gender, this PC garbage is for the birds and not the Thunderbirds.
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