Space Force Commander Fired After Criticizing Diversity Training in Military
The U.S. military, which conducts diversity, equity and inclusion training, apparently isn’t very diverse or inclusive after all.
Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Lohmeier, an officer of the military’s newest branch, the United States Space Force, was relieved of duty after comments he made on a podcast criticizing the military’s diversity, equity and inclusion training.
Speaking on the podcast “Information Operation” with host L. Todd Wood, Lohmeier said, “Our diversity, inclusion and equity industry and the trainings we’re receiving in the military via that industry are rooted in critical race theory which is rooted in Marxism.”
Lt. Col. Lohmeier also said that new military members are introduced to a “hyper-politicized work environment” where the military’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives are “being pushed constantly.”
Lohmeier appeared on the podcast to promote his new book, “Irresistible Revolution: Marxism’s Goal of Conquest & the Unmaking of the American Military.” Following his removal, his book shot up to number one on Amazon’s bestseller charts and was temporarily out of stock.
According to a summary of the book, some of the questions Lohmeier seeks to answer include:
- Why has the Defense Department suddenly shifted to a focus on extremism within the ranks?
- Is there really a white supremacy or white nationalist problem within our armed forces?
- Are the many Diversity and Inclusion trainings that are being conducted in our federal agencies helping solve these problems, or are they creating conflict where none previously existed?
- What is Marxism, and what does it have to do with all of this?
The description also states that many of America’s most important institutions “have all become vessels of various schools of thought that are rooted in Marxist ideology – an ideology bent on the destruction of America’s history, of Western tradition, specifically Judeo-Christian values.”
In a statement on Lohmeier’s firing, a Space Force spokesperson said, “Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Space Operations Command commander, relieved Lt. Col. Matthew Lohmeier of command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron, Buckley AFB, Colo., May 14 due to loss of trust and confidence in his ability to lead. This decision was based on public comments made by Lt. Col. Lohmeier in a recent podcast.”
Lt. Col. Lohmeier laid out examples of problematic ideas he alleges were being taught in the military in an interview on Fox News on Monday.
“There were videos being sent out to every base service member that we were asked to watch in preparation for our extremism down days and discussions on race in which we were taught that the country was evil, that it was founded in 1619, and not 1776 and that whites are inherently evil,” he said.
The firing of Lt. Col. Lohmeier seems to be just the latest example of how divided our culture seems to have become over the past several years, particularly over the issue of race.
Indeed, both white and black Americans believe that race relations began to decline in 2013. According to polling from Gallup, in 2013, 72% of white adults and 66% of black adults thought relations between whites and blacks were somewhat or very good.
By 2016, the numbers had fallen to 55% of white Americans and 49% of black Americans. And by 2020, those numbers had again fallen to 46% of white adults and 36% of black adults.
Now, in times of heightened division and polarization, the body of Christ has the opportunity to minister and promote unity and reconciliation, especially in the area of race.
For as Scripture teaches, every person, no matter their race, has infinite dignity and value because they were made in the image of God.
“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Revelation 7:9-10).
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Screenshot from FoxNews
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zachary Mettler is a writer/analyst for the Daily Citizen at Focus on the Family. In his role, he writes about current political issues, U.S. history, political philosophy, and culture. Mettler earned his Bachelor’s degree from William Jessup University and is an alumnus of the Young Leaders Program at The Heritage Foundation. In addition to the Daily Citizen, his written pieces have appeared in the Daily Wire, the Washington Times, the Washington Examiner, Newsweek, Townhall, the Daily Signal, the Christian Post, Charisma News and other outlets.