Air Force Pressured to Decrease ‘White Male Representation’ in ROTC Program

The U.S. Air Force has come under fire after documents revealed its push to reduce the “white male population” in its Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) officer applicant program. The revelations, reported by The Daily Caller after a legal battle, have sparked controversy over the military’s increasing focus on racial and gender quotas in its recruitment efforts.

In 2022, the Air Force developed a presentation explicitly targeting a demographic shift within its ROTC officer program, aiming to reduce the proportion of white males to less than 50% by fiscal year 2029. The slideshow, titled “AFROTC White,” laid out a clear goal of reducing white male applicants while increasing the numbers of other racial and gender groups. One slide stated plainly, “White male population will decline as other demographics increase.”

The documents were obtained by the Center To Advance Security In America (CASA) after suing the Air Force, which had initially claimed in response to a 2023 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request that no records could be found. The disclosed materials shed light on the Air Force’s broader diversity agenda, confirming the military branch’s active pursuit of racial and gender-based quotas.

• A 2022 memorandum from the U.S. Department of the Air Force emphasized that “diversity and inclusion are an essential part of our society and key to the success of any organization.”

• The slideshow details the Air Force’s racial milestones, including plans to specifically target African American males for recruitment through “ongoing programs and marketing.”

• The Air Force claimed to have already met its “female goal” for ROTC applicants.

In a move aimed at boosting minority recruitment, the Air Force allocated $500,000 for “diversity advertising campaigns” and focused on its Aim High Flight Academy (AHFA), a program designed to attract minority applicants. The goal was to ensure at least 35% of the AHFA applicant pool came from minority groups, reflecting the military's broader push toward demographic quotas.

This approach mirrors similar efforts seen in other federal agencies. In 2022, Daily Wire host Matt Walsh exposed footage from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showing officials openly discussing the need to break the “white-male dominated” industry. FAA Deputy Chief Operating Officer Angela McCullough went as far as saying the organization needed to “get a little uncomfortable” as it addressed future diversity plans.

The Air Force’s diversity push is likely to face more scrutiny as these revelations surface. Critics argue that prioritizing race and gender over merit risks undermining the military’s effectiveness, while proponents claim that a more diverse officer corps is necessary for fostering unity and addressing future challenges.

In the face of growing concerns about military readiness, these diversity-driven quotas raise important questions: Does forcing demographic changes through racial and gender targets benefit national security, or does it weaken the core values of merit and excellence that have traditionally defined America’s armed forces?

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