Posted on Jun 30, 2023
Service academies exempt from Supreme Court affirmative action ruling
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 6
I still think it is wrong. I finished up an E-9 and am happy with that. Still, I got passed over for an officer position once so 3-females could be placed due to affirmative action. None of which had finished their degree. Only one of them was successful.
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MAJ Hugh Blanchard
As a 2LT I finished the Intell Officer Basic Course with a 100% average, the first time that had ever happened. I had a degree in Russian History and spoke Russian, and had served as a Russian enlisted linguist. My requested first assignment was to work in a specific assignment against Russian intelligence operatives. That posting went instead to a young woman who barely graduated the course, and who had no knowledge of anything Russian. I asked why and was told that since she was a minority single parent, assigning her to that position would enable the gaining command to "check three boxes", which they needed to do. I went off to an assignment as an EW officer in Europe, which was very good, but I could have been much better employed in the first position. I don't much like social engineering and affirmative action instead of meritocracy.
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MAJ Roland McDonald
MAJ Hugh Blanchard that was a severe waste of a highly qualified peson..... you.
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MAJ Ronnie Reams
MAJ Hugh Blanchard - I have always heard there is an outfit in DC called the EEOC that tracks hires of women and minorities. If your organization does not meet their requirements, it is sanctioned or sued. When I was faced with EEOC hires, I just worked around them, kinda political hires.
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They were not exempt from it as the cases they were hearing didn't apply to the service academies. I think their should only be merit based at the service academies. But given that every senators and representatives has 2 slot to nominate which they can choose to nominate whomever they wish. But they all still have to qualify for entrance. Some take it seriously and don't waste their nominations while others do as they please. And yes the academies does have favoritism or rewards to donors of political parties.
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MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D.
While serving as a Tac at VFMA&C I was an adviser on kids seeking USMA nominations for Rep. Curt Weldon (R, PA). We would review their academic records and interview them, then give him a rank-ordered list with our recommendations.
Unlike those congress persons who used their nominations as a political tool, USMA knew Weldon's approach and regularly came back to him for nominees to replace others who failed to qualify.
My own son (USMA '00) benefited from having Weldon as his representative and was the third to get in because of it in '96. He is retiring on 31 Aug. as an O-5 after having spent his last tour in Stuttgart as the SOC-Africa J3 plans officer. . . .
Unlike those congress persons who used their nominations as a political tool, USMA knew Weldon's approach and regularly came back to him for nominees to replace others who failed to qualify.
My own son (USMA '00) benefited from having Weldon as his representative and was the third to get in because of it in '96. He is retiring on 31 Aug. as an O-5 after having spent his last tour in Stuttgart as the SOC-Africa J3 plans officer. . . .
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