Marine Commandant Says ‘Zero Evidence’ Diversity Training Is Distracting From War Readiness

General David H. Berger is the U.S. Marine Corps commandant. He said he had seen everything. “zero evidence” supporting claims that the military’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) program —which critics have accused of being “woke”—have hindered the military’s overall readiness for battle.

On Thursday, Berger spoke with Defense One to discuss the Marine Corps’ state.

Caitlin Keny, a reporter asked Berger about his concerns that DEI training was distracting from military’s warfighting training. Berger refuted that assertion in his reply, saying he had not seen any evidence supporting such claims.

“At the end of the day, the goal is to make sure that the unit is prepared for combat. That’s why we have a Marine Corps, to try to prevent a conflict and if one comes to make sure that we win,” Berger stated. “So building cohesive teams is part of that. I have seen zero evidence of any policies that detract from that.”

Berger indicated that he regularly travels to review the Marine Corps capabilities on a weekly basis. “I’m looking for anything that distracts them from their warfighting focus,” But he stated that he hasn’t yet seen anything to be of concern.

The Impact of DEI on Recruitment and Retention

Berger further disputed the claim that DEI is hindering readiness.

“If they sense that the focus was not in fact on being prepared, being ready, but the focus was on other things and it was distracting … I think they would leave. And that’s not the case at all,” Berger stated. “In fact, retention last year exceeded our goals. This year, [the Marine Corps is] way in front of last year. Just the opposite has happened. People want to stay in the Marine Corps.”

Marine Corps reported in mid-July that they had met their Fiscal Year 2022 retention goal, which was two and a half years before September’s fiscal year. This was the first time in 10 years that the service had reached its retention goal.

Berger used troop retention to show that DEI training was not having a negative effect on the military. However, DEI critics have pointed out recent recruitment shortfalls to prove that DEI programs are actually undermining the military.

In addition to meeting its retention targets, the Marine Corps was also able to meet all of its recruiting objectives in fiscal year 2022.

The U.S. Navy met its active-duty enlisted personnel recruitment goal, but failed to meet its reserve and active officers recruiting goals. The U.S. Air Force did not meet its active-duty recruiting targets, but it met its recruiting goals for Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard.

The U.S. Army fell 25% short of its active-duty recruitment goal, with 15,000 recruits falling below its fiscal year 2022 goal of 60,000.

“Wokeness at the DoD has harmed recruitment, retention, and morale,” Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) A February press release by Rep. Jim Banks (Republican from Indiana) addressed Army’s recruitment shortages. Banks, a U.S. Navy Reserve officer, is chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

The Army has refuted the notion. “woke” It is specifically these programs that are responsible for the Army’s recruiting shortfalls. Recently, the Army shared with the Associated Press some selected results from an internal survey. They claim that its recruitment shortfalls are less due to these programs. “wokeness” Recruits’ perceptions of military service as not being relevant to their lives or too dangerous to consider serving in the military are a major factor. These survey results have not been made public by the Army.

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