The Case for Removing DEI from the Military and Prioritizing Lethality and Operational Readiness

As a former Army Ranger I have a growing concern that the Pentagon and other branches of the U.S. military have increasingly prioritized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, often diverting resources, time, and focus from core military objectives. While these initiatives are well-intentioned, they are contributing to a shift in priorities that could weaken our ability to maintain military superiority on the global stage. Instead of strengthening our forces, DEI programs often promote division and wasteful spending, distracting from the singular mission that the military must remain dedicated to: warfighting readiness and operational lethality.

The mission of the U.S. military is simple but critical: to defend the nation and maintain peace through strength. To accomplish this, our military must be able to fight wars and win them decisively, without distractions. The resources—human and financial—invested in DEI programs could be better utilized to advance our readiness. The focus should be on equipping our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines with the best training, advanced technology, and superior leadership, all of which enhance operational performance.

The DEI Distraction

It is crucial to understand that DEI in the context of military operations is not only unnecessary but also counterproductive. The Department of Defense (DoD) and various military branches have introduced a wide array of DEI training and recruitment policies in recent years. These initiatives focus on expanding racial and gender representation within the military, addressing perceived inequities, and pushing diversity as an ultimate goal.

However, our adversaries, including China and Russia, do not approach warfare with the same level of concern for social justice. They focus instead on military superiority, building effective fighting forces, and ensuring that their armed forces can operate at the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness. They do not spend vast amounts of time and resources on initiatives that detract from operational readiness. The U.S. military must learn from this approach and refocus on developing a force capable of decisive action in any conflict.

Rather than investing in divisive DEI efforts that often lead to resentment and inefficiency within the ranks, we should focus on fostering a culture of meritocracy, where every member of the military is judged based on their skills, discipline, and ability to contribute to mission success. This should be the standard for every branch of the military, ensuring that readiness and operational performance are the only priorities.

Wasteful Spending: The Pentagon’s Misguided Priorities

Over the past several years, the Pentagon has faced scrutiny for a growing list of wasteful spending programs that do little to improve the military’s fighting capabilities. This includes billions of dollars allocated to ineffective or redundant programs, along with questionable expenditures on DEI-related initiatives. With the U.S. military’s budget surpassing $800 billion annually, it’s essential that every dollar spent contributes to enhancing our national defense.

Instead of investing in costly programs that prioritize political correctness, resources should be directed toward strengthening the military’s technological edge. This includes advanced weaponry, cyber defense capabilities, artificial intelligence in warfare, and the development of new strategies for combat in an increasingly complex and dangerous global environment.

Lethality and Operational Readiness: Our True Priorities

Lethality is the hallmark of any successful military force. The best-equipped, most-trained soldiers, regardless of their background, race, or gender, are the ones who can get the job done in combat. The U.S. military has long prided itself on operational readiness—the ability to mobilize, deploy, and win wars anywhere in the world. This readiness is built upon realistic training, state-of-the-art equipment, and strong leadership that focuses on achieving victory at all costs.

If we fail to prioritize lethality and operational readiness, we risk losing the military edge that has kept the U.S. as the world’s most dominant superpower. DEI programs that siphon resources from critical areas like military training and operational testing erode the military’s ability to compete with potential adversaries. In today’s volatile world, it is imperative that we refocus on warfighting capability, ensuring that we have a military that is agile, lethal, and capable of executing complex missions swiftly and decisively.

Conclusion: A Return to Focus

The future of our nation’s security depends on how we prioritize our resources, and right now, the focus must be on the lethality and operational readiness of our military forces. We must end the wasteful spending on DEI programs and return to the core mission of military strength: defending the United States through effective, decisive, and capable forces. Our adversaries are not concerned with quotas or diversity training; they are building powerful militaries to defeat us. We cannot afford to waste resources on anything other than preparing our forces for victory. It’s time to put aside political correctness, cut wasteful programs, and reinvest in what truly matters: military readiness and superiority.