New Diversity Council Announced By Tennessee National Guard
Image Credit: Tennessee National Guard / Facebook
The Tennessee Conservative [By Adelia Kirchner] –
This week the Tennessee National Guard Affairs Office issued a statement announcing the department’s new Diversity Council.
Their press release stated that “Diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity are critical elements for success in the military.” These elements were further classified as “combat multipliers” meant to “enhance lethality and mission success.”
However, as observed by many Tennesseans and Conservatives across the country, these concepts tend to mean something much different in theory than they do in execution by governmental entities, educational spaces, etc.
The Joint Diversity Executive Council (JDEC) exists to provide a forum for senior leaders and stakeholders to focus on the department’s inclusion and diversity initiatives, assign resources, develop policy, analyze trends, and hold leaders accountable to established inclusion and diversity objectives.
In a previous statewide memo, Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes wrote “Success is defined as a Tennessee Military Department that recognizes and capitalizes on all of the unique talents possessed by every member of the team and we derive strength from the cultures, perspectives, skills and other qualities of our personnel.”
According to JDEC member, Lt. Col. Meredith Richardson, they will be launching a formal and voluntary mentorship program in the near future. The program is said to offer Soldiers and Airmen of diverse backgrounds an opportunity for personal and professional mentorship.
“As a supervisor or a leader, you are a mentor to the Soldiers and Airmen you supervise, and promoting diversity is a key part of that relationship.” JDEC member, Chief Master Sgt. Benjamin Williams said.
According to Tennessee’s senior military leaders, diverse units and teams are more effective in today’s complex warfighting environment. The state department’s Equal Employment Manager, Andrea Adcox, believes the new council is a step forward in building a more diverse and effective military force in Tennessee.
The JDEC also has a major focus on ensuring equal advancement within ranks. Adcox went on to emphasize that, “A positive human relations climate is essential for success and improves mission readiness.”
In order to form a unique and inclusive commonality between the ranks, this “climate” also concerns an “interconnectedness of human spirituality” according to Col. Mark Phillips, Tennessee’s State Chaplain.
The Tennessee National Guard Affairs Office, believes that recognizing different points of view, experiences, and backgrounds, improves the strength and quality of life for every member, which is the main goal of the JDEC.
With diversity and inclusion efforts being prioritized and executed all across the country in ways that often contradict the actual definitions of such concepts, it has become increasingly important to assess the context of these terms and the outcomes of such initiatives. Especially when governmental entities such as this one continue to implement them time and time again.
About the Author: Adelia Kirchner is a Tennessee resident and reporter for the Tennessee Conservative. Currently the host of Subtle Rampage Podcast, she has also worked for the South Dakota State Legislature and interned for Senator Bill Hagerty’s Office in Nashville, Tennessee. You can reach Adelia at adelia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
They want a so called Diversity council GARBAGE and our Armed forces don’t have the equipment or man power to fight our way out of a wet paper bag!!
The Tennessee National Guard Affairs Office, believes that recognizing different points of view, experiences, and backgrounds, improves the strength and quality of life for every member, which is the main goal of the JDEC.
This is “the main goal of the JDEC”. Heck, here I was thinking it was to promote military readiness in defense of our country. Ya learn something new everyday!
Bill Lee’s Tennessee Guard! Pathetic!
By all means, let’s make sure we foster diversity and don’t promote the best person for the job, and further make sure as many leadership positions as possible are not filled by straight, “white” men because you know, skin color defines everything. It’s not like it’s the military and defense is involved or anything. When is this insanity going to stop? It’s not racist or any other discriminatory thing to want to have the best people promoted, regardless of superficial things such as skin color, gender, sexual orientation, etc. We need a Commander in Chief and a Governor who will stop this insanity before we’re all speaking Chinese.
I no longer live in Tennessee, but my son is in the military. He did attend JROTC while we lived there. He has friends that joined the military before him, and are in the reserves, or guard now. Many of them do not have the necessary armaments that they need to successfully complete missions, some do not have enough weapons, bullet proof vests, or are missing parts of the vests. These guys are not straight into the guard or reserves, they moved from active duty to these positions, they know what they are suppose to have available to them. Ironically, it is platoons and battalions who are not active duty, called up first when we engage in a conflict. Protection and Armament is necessary for their survival. Training, is necessary for their survival. I’m sorry but I understand trying to make things easier for people, and more accepting all around, but if you are attempting to teach a new recruit to work as a team, yet they need to identify as something else, then that person is going to have a difficult time working together as a team. Anything outside of the team, that is the business of the individual, and most people will be accepting. There isn’t any bullshit reason to create more expense with organizations for special people. You are causing a problem
Well, this makes me want to puke. If “it” doesn’t add to readiness, which this does not, there is no place for it in our Armed Forces.