Former military leaders have sounded the alarm over the inclusion of Critical Race Theory (CRT) in the curriculum of U.S. military academies.
The notion that racism is institutionalized in the United States and that these institutions serve to uphold white supremacy in society is at the core of CRT, which is a collection of concepts that relies on that assertion to claim much of society should be changed.
Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier (Ret.) emphasized, when asked about the idea that “white rage” could be considered during military promotions and other decisions, that anyone focused on war and mission objectives has no thought for issues addressed by CRT.
In his view, discussions related to critical race theory may not naturally align with the military workplace’s core mission.
The question stemmed partially from a discussion following a 2021 seminar at the United States Military Academy West Point called “Understanding Whiteness and White Rage,” sparking concerns about the potential impact on the military’s core mission.
At the time, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley defended the military’s stance on addressing racism and extremism within its ranks.
Mr. Milley’s comments from the summer of 2021 resurfaced during the Jan. 11 hearing, reigniting discussions about the role of critical race theory in military education.
Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) raised concerns about the U.S. Military Academy at West Point offering instruction in critical race theory. He labeled such teachings as “destructive.”
Mr. Milley responded to criticisms, asserting the importance of being open-minded and well-read in the military’s educational context.
He defended studying various theories and rejected accusations of the military being ‘woke’ for exploring different perspectives.
“And the United States Military Academy is a university. And it is important that we train and we understand—and I want to understand white rage. And I’m white.”
Mr. Milley went on to say that future military leaders need to understand what is happening in the country and how society might be influenced by various ways of thinking.
The military leader continued: “I’ve read Mao Zedong, I’ve read Karl Marx, I’ve read Lenin. That doesn’t make me a communist. So what is wrong with understanding?
“Having some situational understanding about the country for which we are here to defend? And I personally find it offensive that we are accusing the United States military—our general officers, our commissioned and noncommissioned officers—of being ‘woke’ because we’re studying some theories that are out there.”
During the recent hearing, another witness, Will Thibeau, the director of the American Military Project at the Claremont Institute and a former member of the 75th Ranger Regiment in Iraq, expressed concerns about racial goals in admissions at West Point.
He questioned the distinction between goals and quotas, advocating for promoting cohesive teams without implementing personnel policies based on race.
“What is problematic is when West Point, for example, has racial goals for every admissions class, and admissions leaders are evaluated whether or not they meet race, race-based goals. I don’t know what the difference is between a goal and a quota.
“To me, we should do more to perhaps promote cohesive teams without implementing a personnel system, that again alters the nature of how merit defines personnel policy.”
