Affirmative Action for blacks and women has also been in effect to some extent, at least for the desk officers. Affirmative action IS in effect for homosexuals all through the system.
There is one type of “Affirmative Action” that none of its advocates talk about much less have experienced.
True “Affirmative Action” can only be found on the battlefield in the middle of a heavy fire fight - bullets, incoming, mines, and fragmentation don’t care what your gender or race are. They will kill the minorities just as fast as they will kill the majorities.
Been there and done that.
If I was ‘King for the day” I would make promotion solely dependent on the number of combat tours you have accomplished. After all, how do you know what is truly important in combat if you haven’t been there, ever!