Pentagon Spox Asked If 'Anti-DEI Initiatives' Will Have A Negative Impact On Recruitment

yesterday

During a press briefing on Monday, Pentagon Spokesperson Sean Parnell was asked about the effect that 'anti-DEI initiatives' may have on recruitment.

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Transcript

00:00Charlie, from CBS.

00:02Yes, thank you, John.

00:04Changing the subject slightly.

00:05Is the DOD considering rescheduling the performance

00:08of young musicians in the Marine Band

00:11that was canceled because of the anti-DEI executive order?

00:15And in a broader sense, is there a concern that

00:19anti-DEI initiatives may have a negative impact

00:23on recruitment?

00:24Well, I think that the President and the Secretary

00:27have been very clear on this, that anybody that says

00:31in the Department of Defense that diversity is our strength

00:34is frankly incorrect.

00:37Our shared purpose and unity are our strength.

00:39And I say this as somebody who led a combat platoon

00:43in Afghanistan that was probably the most diverse platoon

00:46that you could possibly imagine.

00:48I mean, we had blacks serving next to white,

00:51Christians serving next to atheists,

00:53Northerners next to Southerners,

00:55and yes, Democrats and Republicans,

00:57and the very same foxhole.

00:59But the reason why we were so lethal in Afghanistan,

01:05and again, my platoon took an 85% casualty rate

01:07over 485 days, but part of the reason why

01:12we were able to accomplish the mission

01:14and the commander's intent was because we put aside

01:18our many differences as Americans.

01:21There were no hyphenated Americans with us

01:23in that isolated hilltop in the border region of Afghanistan

01:26we were all just Americans.

01:28And really, when you talk about America's greatest strength,

01:33yes, we've got, as I'm sure the General can attest,

01:36yes, we've got lots of cool, sexy equipment

01:39and lots of exceptional military training,

01:41and I think it helps set us apart from everybody else.

01:44But what makes us exceptional fighters on the battlefield

01:48is our ability to put aside our many differences

01:51and unite under a common banner as Americans.

01:55I mean, for goodness sake, when we put aside

01:58our many differences as Americans,

02:00we went to the moon with less technology

02:03than many of you all have in your pockets

02:05in your cell phones right now.

02:06We're talking about a force that stormed

02:09the beaches of Normandy, scaled the cliffs

02:11that point to Hawks, fought through hedgerows

02:14and beat back the Nazi war machine and saved the world.

02:20And we put aside our many differences as Americans.

02:22And I know President Trump understands

02:25that our focus on unity and shared purpose

02:28is what makes us lethal, and so does Secretary Hegseth.

02:31So their guidance has been clear on this,

02:35and we're gonna continue to focus on that guidance.

02:37Wait, in terms of the concert,

02:39are you thinking about rescheduling that?

02:42I don't think, I'll have to take that question for you.

02:45I don't have an answer for you,

02:47but we'll get back to you on that.

Pentagon Spox Asked If 'Anti-DEI Initiatives' Will Have A Negative Impact On Recruitment

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