Posted on Apr 6, 2015
COL Charles Williams
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What are your thoughts on this topic, this training, this manual?

I, personally, believe we have come a long way in the America and in our Army, but I also know (A) we are not there yet, and (B) I know that I see the world through my eyes and life experiences.

1. As you know (or may not know) the concept of "white privilege" appeared in the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute (DEOMI) training manual in 2013. DOD officials quickly said it was a mistake, and it that this was not caught in the fielding of the policy manual... That makes sense, as many don't actually read things they approve. That led me/us to believe there was a change in the works.

2. Now, it appears this concept, which was supposed to be removed the DOD training manual/POI, was not, and DEOMI is still pushing this message. Now, it appears we have an EO Officer or NCO teaching this to Soldiers...

Interesting to say the least.

These are some related articles.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/03/army-diversity-training/25250733/

http://toprightnews.com/army-soldiers-forced-to-sit-through-white-privilege-presentation-and-the-backlash-is-just-beginning/
http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/10/31/pentagon-training-manual-white-males-have-unfair-advantages/
Edited >1 y ago
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Responses: 64
SGT(P) Khalid Wise
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O-M-G, what the frack?!? I have too many rebel flag bearing brothers who had my six without reservation or hesitation operating in Afghanistan in 2003-2004... That only happens in our greatest military, JMHO.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
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Definitely Agree Sir!COL Charles Williams
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
>1 y
SEMPER Fi SGT! I worked on MCB Camp LeJeune as a Therapist after Army!Sgt Cody Dumont
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
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OUTSTANDING SSG Robert L.
We ALL bleed red blood! I Stand for the Flag & National Anthem. I kneel before God.SSG (Join to see)
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LTC Philip Marlowe
LTC Philip Marlowe
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SGT Wise, you stated a fundamental difference between the brotherhood of the US Military and the civilian sector. Frankly, anyone who has not served will never understand it. They simply fail to understand the brotherhood and at some point in their lives (heard it in many an airport bar) will 1) Regret (cry in their beer) they did not participate (and retire) and 2) Resent YOU for having experienced it.
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CSM Brigade Operations (S3) Sergeant Major
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Absolutely ridiculous!!! I am not naïve and fully understand that there is racism, sexism, and every other ism in the Army. Again, we are a cross section of the population we serve, there will never be a perfect equal opportunity program because you cannot change someone's beliefs in a short amount of time, if ever.

Garbage like this only propels racism. I have never felt privileged over any other race since I have been in the Army. In the Infantry everybody is treated like crap so we got that going for us.

I think we will be seeing a major overhaul soon in the Army's Equal Opportunity Program. They replaced POSH with SHARP because POSH was ineffective, I see that same thing happening with EO.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
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OUTSTANDING CSM Bigg John’s! Would have Definitely stayed in longer if You were in my ‘Chain if Command’!CSM (Join to see)
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CSM Command Sergeant Major
CSM (Join to see)
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Thank you! I wish all my soldiers felt that way SPC Nancy Greene
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
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Poor Leadership leads to Loss of Motivated Soldiers & Death of Soldiers during Peacetime..That is why I requested Medical Discharge.CSM (Join to see)
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
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If I was in the ‘back row’, I would have gotten up & moved closer to ‘make the shit’! The ‘rules’ didn’t STATE you had to ‘stay in place’!CSM (Join to see)
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BG David Fleming III
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Edited >1 y ago
"White Privilege" isn't a word I would ever use in my vocabulary. Favoritism exist is the military just as it does in the general population. I have sat on my share of promotion boards with officers and NCO's of all races, and I can say quite comfortably, skin color has never stopped a qualified soldier from getting promoted.

The process works good as long as you have a diverse panel reviewing the files. I believe this neutralizes any effect of favoritism one might have.
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SPC Nancy Greene
SPC Nancy Greene
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Agree Sir after reaching E6 and prior to E4. The rank in between is based upon Promotion Points obtained by Individual Soldiers. The ‘Cut Off’ scores for Promotion are determined by DA HQ.
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