Posted on 08/07/2021 3:57:47 PM PDT by John Semmens
Chief of naval personnel Vice Adm. John Nowell Jr. wants to resume the practice of including photos of officers up for promotion in the information packets reviewed by selection boards. “The premise that excluding photos would combat racism in the decisions on who would be promoted isn’t working,” the Admiral said. Photos were excluded under the orders of former Defense Secretary Mark Esper in July of 2020 to “prevent discrimination, prejudice and bias and promote equal opportunity, morale and the readiness of the force.”
“I understand the intent was to reduce the chances for race to influence the decisions on which officers would be promoted,” Nowell admitted. “The idea was modeled on the ‘blind audition’ procedure used to evaluate the talent of musicians seeking spots in an orchestra—leaving merit as the sole factor in the selection process. The problem is that a rigid focus on merit resulted in fewer minorities being promoted. Unless those making the promotion recommendations can see the race of the candidates they can’t use race as a factor in their decisions.”
“While competence is an important element of what makes a good officer it should not overrule the objective of achieving a proper balance among the races within our military services,” Nowell asserted. “Democracy requires that America have a Navy that looks like Americans.”
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The idea was modeled on the ‘blind audition’ procedure used to evaluate the talent of musicians seeking spots in an orchestra—leaving merit as the sole factor in the selection process.
Besides without the photos a bunch of fat burgers were slipping through. One of the promotion boards I sat on required PT test results, pictures, physicals, proficiency test scores, etc. In every case, when we had to request the missing items, you can guess what the results were when they were furnished. This was for a very senior NCO promotion board.
Surprise
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