The U.S. Air Force has decided to resume the use of a video about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black airmen in the U.S. military, in training for new recruits. This decision comes after a review to ensure compliance with President Trump’s ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the government and military. The video will be taught along with another video about Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASPs) from World War Two.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who was recently sworn in, has made eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from the military a top priority. The Tuskegee Airmen, a group of 450 pilots who fought overseas in segregated units during World War Two, played a significant role in paving the way for the desegregation of the armed forces in 1948.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion programs aim to promote opportunities for women, ethnic minorities, and other underrepresented groups. Supporters argue that these programs are necessary to address longstanding inequities and structural racism. However, conservatives have criticized such initiatives, arguing that they are discriminatory and do not prioritize merit.
While the air force initially withheld the teaching of these videos pending a review, they have now decided to include them in the training curriculum. Lieutenant General Brian Robinson stated that no trainees will miss out on this instruction, although one group had their training delayed.
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