Special Observances

Why do we continue to have Special Observances? After all, with open service for all, haven’t we mastered Diversity and Inclusion by now?

Good question. And the answer is…no; not by a lot. President Truman integrated the armed forces in 1948. 81 years later, African-Americans still suffer from discrimination and bigotry throughout society, and yes, even within our military. Women have been part of America’s military tradition since 1775, but not always openly. During the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, they participated in ancillary roles, and when in combat, they did so disguised as men. The first woman to enlist, as herself, was not until 1917. There were no women in the academies until 1976! And women were not part of combat units until 2016; prior to that year, they had served in combat as war does not stay within boundaries too well. They distinguished their efforts with Honor, and enthusiasm.

In the realm of LGBTQ+, it has been even more complicated. While these individuals have served throughout our history, it has only recently been openly. Prior to President Clinton and the introduction of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”, discovery of one’s homosexuality or other queerness was grounds for immediate discharge. With DADT, one could serve, as long as no one ever found out. For those who have not had to hide major parts of their life else face loss of their livelihoods do not know the fear which enveloped these Servicemembers. At any moment, one’s career could come to a crashing end. In 2010, DADT ended and open service was welcomed for the LGB.

That is not a typo. LGB could openly serve, but still the transgender individuals could not. The fear continued. 30 June 2016, Secretary of Defense Ash Carter opened service to transgender individuals. And while the next administration reversed course, in 2021, President Biden restored open service.

So, we are good! Laws, regulations, policies and orders have brought all of us into service for our country, regardless of race (1948), being female (2016), sexual orientation (2010), and gender identity (2021). Yet, Servicemembers are still harassed. Discrimination occurs regularly. Sexual harassment and sexual assault are shockingly not rarities, but commonly shared histories amongst our ranks. Open bigotry is less often found, yet a visit to social media will quickly reveal the dark bigotry alive and well.

These observances, then, are still essential. More so, they must not be “check-the-box” activities. Too, they should not be events where your absence is noteworthy; attendance may not be mandatory, but you had better be there. We often celebrate distinctions of our individual groups, and slowly more often, we utilize these opportunities to learn about those to our left and right in America’s formations.

Any self-respecting infantry Soldier will tell you that without them, no one will win a war. True, but it is the diversity in our job fields that enables that Soldier to fight and win. Cooks, supply, medics, intelligence gatherers, and clerks may not be the image of the combat Soldier, yet without them, that Soldier will soon be hungry, out of bullets, possibly wounded, unsure of where the enemy is or how strong and worse – not being correctly paid! It takes an Army to be an Army. And an Air Force to parachute them (Airborne!), bomb the enemy, and bring more supplies. The Navy, and with them, our beloved Marines, achieve many of those results on the world’s oceans.

Thus, since we recognize that we need all these parts to make an overwhelmingly strong whole, that we need that Diversity, and that all are important and play a role, why is it so difficult to recognize that is true within our ranks? As our skills, intelligence, and talents are spread throughout the services, so are they spread throughout our individuals. Men bring their strengths and talents, as do women, persons of color, LGBTQ, and our whole spectrum. We are all valuable.

Diversity is our force multiplier. Together, we are successful. Our nation protects and defends our Constitution by living the freedoms enshrined within that very document.

Out of many, one.