The four-star general addressed his top four priorities, the war in Afghanistan ranking number one.Sigh. I guess in 2010 this is about the best we can do. I think I will give him a pass.
"It's more important to me than anything else," Amos said.
The Marine Corps will remain relevant and "respond to today's crisis, today, with today's force," Amos said.
Other priorities include rebalancing the corps and designing it for a post-Afghanistan environment. With about 202,000 Marines today, Amos said he expects that number to shrink when the corps come out of Afghanistan.
He also wants to improve Marine education and training and "keep faith" with -- or take care of -- active duty Marines, veterans and their families.
Greater diversity throughout the corps falls under that goal, Amos said.
Right now recruiting is "the best it's every been" in terms of quality, but Amos said he wants the face of the Marine corps to better reflect the American population.
"We've not done a good job of recruiting diversity in the Marine Corps, and I'm going to change that," Amos said. "And by the way, I'm going to change it by not lowering standards. I'm going to change it by not having quotas. ... I don't know how we're going to do it, but I've got smart Marines who are going to help me figure it out."
It is important to remember that during the deepest depths of the Commissariat - even the greatest dreamers of a free nation would greet each other with "Comrade."
Becomes a verbal habit to avoid trouble.
At least he has his number 1 priority right.
Then again - the question must be asked; so Gen. Amos, are you going to recruit FEWER Hispanics now?Tricky business this sectarian, rife with fraud business is.
Er, General Amos MUST know that minorities (Blacks, Hispanics) are WAY over-represented in the Marine Corps.
ReplyDeleteIs he going to recruit more white guys?
I think Salamander's statement is spot on. A verbal habit to avoid trouble.
Slightly off today's topic:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.navytimes.com/news/2010/11/navy-academy-diversity-111710w/
LASTIMA A EL TONTO!
ReplyDeletePlatoon 3001, MCRD San Diego, January 1979 had 59 Marine Recruits who graduated. 38 Light Green, 12 Dark Green, 5 Spanish speaking Green and 4 Islander Green. Our Drill Instructors were SDI Dark Green, DI Spanish Speaking Green, DI Apache Green, and finally DI Light Green.
ReplyDeleteLooked like a reflection of American Green Society to me. We really need to get off the color thing.
One hundred years from now the Obama period may be refered to as "Winter." The General just said that he is managing for survival. That is all.
ReplyDeleteWalking through the Hall of Heroes there at the Pentagon... reading the MOH citations and seeing pictures and names I recall it dawned on me that enlisted Marines of Hispanic origin were represented in great proportions. Is that a quota we want to cut?
ReplyDeleteHey, if NASA's top priority can be Muslim outreach why would we expect any FOGO to list anything other than the diversity-flavor-of-the-month as their top priority?
ReplyDeleteI like his slap at the Navy: "we're going to do it without quotas." and "we've got smart people working on it." Two things that the Navy cannot claim.
ReplyDeletePerhaps the "diversity goals/quotas/percentages" should be redefined.
ReplyDeleteHow about reflecting the diversity ratios found among the "citizens qualified for military service" demographic instead of the entire U.S. population?
Deduct the folks who are chronic drug users, incarcerated or have criminal records, high school drop outs, NPQ (not physically qualified- obese, deaf from rock music, etc), mental group 4, etc.
You will probably find that recruiters are doing a darn good job from the universe of eligible recruits, and that we have acheived the glorious condition of "diverseness".
Mission accomplished. Move on and kill enemies.
Tell the schools and social service industry to accomplish their mission and make more kids eligible to serve, then we will look at percentages again.
Right now recruiting is "the best it's every been" in terms of quality...
ReplyDeleteSo why would you want to change anything??? Ah, yes for the sake of diversity. All the practical real world reasons be damned; let's do it for diversity. Maybe we could get the diversity bullies to go out and apply the the same logic (sic) to the NBA, NFL, MLB, Soccer,et al. These institutions use taxpayer funding to build arenas and stadiums, so they too are subject to this stupidity. This stuff doesn't fly in the real world and it should not be allowed to fester like the sore it is in the military. I can hear it now,"I want a black guy, three white guys and somebody half-asian and preferably part hispanic to cover the left flank. Oh, and get me a fat guy and a gay guy and a tansgendered detail for KP." Yeah, right. You have got to believe that this ridiculous stuff is close to running off the rails. Come on Hope and Change!
IIRC, during my mandatory East Coast Penalty Tour there was/is a Virginia Beach Mexican restaurant that has a mural of USMC MOH awardees of Mexican-American or Hispanic origin. Very humbling to read. And you all are right, as SNO points out to me (and his rainbowdiversityunicorn college classmates) there's only one color in the Corps: Green. Shading is optional.
ReplyDeleteOn a more serious note, all officers serve "at the pleasure of the President." I'm willing to bet CMC Amos has plans and ideas he wants very much to implement; if paying some lip service to satisfy his Executive Branch superiors is what it takes, then he'll give them the lip service and press on.
forget demographics. let's talk GEOGRAPHICS. why are most americans who serve coming from the South? What are the 2nd and 3rd order effects of BRAC--ala taking all of the bases out of the North East and west coasts? They are obvious, you get who you get because little boys and girls don't grow up with jets flying over their houses, with ships visible from their beaches, with soldiers in uniform in their supermarkets. their only knowledge of the military is what their teachers and the media tell them. and in liberal areas such as the left coast, north east, it isn't flattering. Imagine for a second if we had a USMC base in NYC, say Brooklyn. Or if the NYC shipyard were still making ships. You think you'd have more african american young men from NYC signing up? Damn right you would. They'd see the high speed kick ass fellas and say "I want to be that." The military plays an important part in the development of many young men and women. Having greater military presence, as Sal has stated for National Security Reasons, diffused throughout America could only help minorities, and as a second order effect, increase demographic and geographic diversity
ReplyDeleteBingo. Interstingly, one of the most pushed special warfare recruiting programs is to go out to middle schools and high school freshman with all their cool toys, put them through a "SEAL Workout" and talk up the program. Target the kids who are old enough to start training, young enough to still make lifetyle changes with time to take hold. The whole idea is that if they approach an inner city 13 year old and plant the idea of BUDS in their head, and then tell that kid "but you need a clean record, a good ASVAB score and you need to be physically fit", that kid will spend the next five years staying out of trouble and hitting the gym, so when he's 18 he's ready to kick some ass. The results are now starting to creep in and as the program gets longevity, more of the same is expected...a new caliber of motivated, physically ready recruits of all races and economic backgrounds who have already pushed themselves to excel.
ReplyDeleteGee...what a concept.
AR, Great idea...until it runs up against the anti-war/anti-military "industry" who will then swing into action to "...protect the children from the evil forces that are targeting the poor and dispossessed..." (I live near Seattle and have witnessed this first-hand). They will challenge the presence of military recruiters on middle school campuses in court and, failing that, will picket, set up "information tables" telling the "truth" about military service, etc. until the whole thing becomes too hard.
ReplyDeletewell, this is Special Warfare we're talking about. Identify trouble makers and neutralize them.
ReplyDeleteI would like to say one thing about diversity, little "d." I say little d because I'm not talking about the industry "Diversity", filled with its bullshit race baiting garbage baggage, but diversity as in a diffuse grouping of different folks. diversity is good for the US military because it increases the "skin in the game factor." no, I'm not talking about skin color. I'm talking about investment. with 98% of the black vote going to Barack Obama primarily because he is black, it is apparent that we still have a long way to go when it comes to race, on all sides. having more minorities in the military increases those minority groups "skin in the game" i.e. personal, emotional investment, and can in fact act as a great unifier of all of us Americans. When the US military carries a 95% + approval rating at almost all times since the 1980s, seeing a veritable buffet table of ethnic groups in uniform helps to carry the message that we are all in it together . I would never recommend doing this at the expense of the functional imperative--kicking ass and winning wars--but I can recognize some good can come from this. As long as it is not done on an unconstitutional quota basis, and as long as we aren't letting in certain less qualified people of one race vs more qualified of another. as I said beneath, the best way to achieve this is to stop consolidating military bases and go back to spreading out again!
ReplyDeleteAs i sit here eating my Chinese food 8-) , (I believe in diversity in eating - last night, Italian) :-P I am just 18 hours or so from getting on a airplane to attend PCU Gravely DDG 107 commissioning. Now that's a story of truly overcoming much to achieve much. In the 1940's segregated military, it is truly something to celebrate by being the first black officer in the United States Navy, as well as the first Flag Officer.
ReplyDeleteThat's the kind of man who should be celebrated for he achieved much. I've only read his story, but he is quoted on the Gravely web page talking about 'effort' if memory serves.
BTW - I have five tickets to the ceremony, and am only using one. Anyone posting here who can get there - text or call me at 612-599-1935, and I will bring them with me.
I took a young man around the halls at work and let him talk to my JASOC AGC (SW/AW/Jump) and he has been all over it since then. Good stuff!
ReplyDeleteAhh, Bruce Fleming. Just had a book come out, too. While I agree with him on the football issue, the fact that it's been 7-8 years since he sat on the admissions board makes that a tired song.
ReplyDeleteNavy Times piece on this subject.
ReplyDeleteFleming continued: “You have students who have been let in, basically, only for their athletic ability or for their skin color.”
His comments irked at least one graduate in attendance.
“I stand before you today, the person you talk about in writing,” Rear Adm. Julius Caesar told Fleming before a few dozen alumni during the question-and-answer period that followed Fleming’s remarks. “I’m so glad that you didn’t sit on my admissions board.”
Around by me, they "support the troops" and then tell the military families that they cost the school district money (since the DOD isn't paying the FULL amount it costs to educate the kids). Interestingly, neither are they, when one considers the businesses and homes w/o kids in the school districts who still pay the property taxes.
ReplyDeleteBesides playing football at USNA, what is the rest of the poop on Adm. Ceaser?
ReplyDelete" with 98% of the black vote going to Barack Obama primarily because he is black, it is apparent that we still have a long way to go when it comes to race, on all sides. "
ReplyDeleteAnd, how EXACTLY, does this imply WE have a long way to go when it comes to race, on all sides when 98 percent of ONE group votes like that?
WE don't have a big problem...this group does.
The REST Of your post is very well said, BUT - ensuring that the US military reflects a diverse citzenry means that we are already practising institutional racism, preferring some ethnic groups over others. This, in turn, means our recruiters are leaving many of our "best qualified applicants" behind because - their skin color or ethnic background is "not wanted". Can you see the problem?
We can't have it both ways. We already know which way we have it now. Facts are often tough things to deal with.
Some songs are popular tunes because the notes sound right. It's not a tired song - the facts on the ground bear him out. Good luck contesting the facts.
ReplyDelete<p><span><span><span>I hate to say this but when I see a black admiral who freely admits that he got in to the USNA due to his skin color, I have to also wonder if that was the same criteria for his continued advancement.</span></span></span>
ReplyDelete</p><p><span><span> </span></span>
</p><p><span><span><span>Having to wonder about that is exactly why “Diversity” is unfair to all.</span></span></span>
</p><p><span><span> </span></span></p>
How 'bout we simply take the fight to the enemy with what we've got and within standards, and win regardless of melanin.
ReplyDeleteThe NaCl family is big, I like it! I said we have a race problem on all sides because organizations like the NAACP always claim it is one-sided. It isn't. It's universal, but in this instance--voting--it appears severely lopsided towards black racism.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that we need to ensure that the military reflects its citizenry. Spartan warriors didn't represent Greeks from Athens ("those artists and boy lovers"). But I was reflecting on some benefits of a diverse (little d) force that was a byproduct of our bases having greater geographical diversity.
Look at China. China is HUGE. But who plays in their military? Mongolians? Negative. Tibetans? Negative. Cantonese? Not on your life. Han Chinese, almost exclusively. The Han Chinese is the "master race." It is indicative of how they run their government, how they make their policies, etc. Now we are not China. We are an all volunteer force. But having bases in precious few geographic locations has led to certain demographics. This is construed as a problem by navy leaders who, as a result of their shortsightedness, now have problems convincing joe six packs that there is STILL a US Navy when they embark on their "Conversations with the County" boondoggles. At least that is what I hope. I hope that this is not just rampant liberal puntative action against whites by some guilt ridden old white men bent on punishing future white generations for their crimes. I hope that there is something potentially more benevolent behind this blatant unconstitutional program.
ReplyDeleteSearch on LinkedIn and Navy Bio. Reserve guy, has some decent schools.
ReplyDeleteSo, my take is he did well. I'd be curious to see the numbers on career officers vs football.
I am sure he still has insight to what happens on the board to some degree. But you have to wonder why he is no longer on those boards? Maybe he is on to something.
ReplyDeleteEach class has a profile. It is probably not hard to go from the profile average to the candidate pool average to see what happens in the boards.
hes no longer on those boards because USNA knows that he speaks out agaisnt the racism of the institution. How would they recruit using their racist tactics if he was on the board?
ReplyDeleteCome on Sal, CMC published his guidance and I believe diversity was mentioned at the end of the document. What? Ain't enough Navy stuff happening or you got a bone to pick with the new Commandant? Or are you just PO'ed Amos is not supporting the repeal of DADT?
ReplyDeleteOr maybe it is selective memory. This stuff has been said for years, been in writing for years. Have the Marines gone overboard like the Navy? I think not.
At the end of the day Marines earn thier right to be called Marines. When I looked left or right all I saw were Marines, never did figure out where they came from because it didn't matter we were Marines. Every now and then we had a few who couldn't or wouldn't maintain the standards, they didn't last long. I can live with that.
well then they don't get to complain later when there are fewer minority specwar operators. BUDS is BUDS. either you can pass it or you can't.
ReplyDeleteRedeye80,
ReplyDeleteNot so long ago, I was looking to xfer over to the Marines as I was so fed up w/ the Navy. Talking w/ the recruiter, he mentioned the falling standards to accomodate diversity. He expressed his frustration at the misaligned goals and resources. Of course, at this time I had my robe on and was clapping and singing from the pews to his right. Preach it brother! The Marines are a bit slow on this and have tried to stay true to their core values. But each slip away from that erodes at their mission capability and esprit de corps.
A bright note though. I work with a big diverse field of professionals. Our big cheese just started being the big cheese here and he gave a speech on his leadership style, etc. He mentioned diversity, but the cool thing is he specifically pointed out he did NOT mean race he was specifically talking about skill sets and professional backgrounds and went on to say how excited he was to see where this would take us in our problem solving capabilities. And he is right, we have tons of different career fields being thrown together to solve problems. THAT is what diversity SHOULD mean.
Did you even read the post? Geezzz dude.
ReplyDeleteCome back next THU for the nuance.
ReplyDeleteI thought when they stuck a winger in the top slot that things might start to get weird. Mission accomplished.
ReplyDeleteall my ground pounder coworkers and buddies say that
ReplyDeleteAmos hasn't said anything different than Conway on diversity. Peas in a pod so far.
ReplyDeleteGrunts are still in shock an aviator is in charge. Get over it!