Diluting Excellence

Via executive order and via his selection for Secretary of Defense, Trump has driven a stake into the heart of "DEI in the military." I've already written about the broader end of DEI in government, but this particular iteration warrants extra attention.

For the simple reason that the United States military's job is to defend the country. Not to "improve" society or advance ideologies or send messages or make individuals feel good about themselves. Our soldiers, sailors, and airmen serve one purpose - to deter those who would do harm to our nation, and to defeat them when deterrence does not work.

If your goal is singular, your will is focused. If your goal is singular, the mission is all that matters. If your goal is singular, all your decisions are based on fulfilling that goal. You maximize your pursuit of excellence in furtherance of that goal.

However, if you add on other goals, your focus is divided. Your decisions will be affected. Some of your resources will be channeled away from the primary goal. Inevitably, the excellence you pursue is diverted, diluted, and diminished.