The Air Force’s recent decision to remove content about the Tuskegee Airmen and Women’s Airforce Service Pilots from its basic training curriculum has sparked controversy and debate about historical representation in military training.
At a Glance
- Air Force removes videos about Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs from basic training
- Change aligns with new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Acceptance (DEIA) guidance
- Removal seen as part of broader rebranding of Air Force DEI programs
- Decision criticized as potentially undermining important historical narratives
- Some argue the move may be an act of “malicious obedience” to new orders
Air Force Revises Training Curriculum
The United States Air Force has made a controversial decision to remove videos about the Tuskegee Airmen and Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) from its basic training curriculum. This change comes as part of a broader revision of iversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Acceptance (DEIA) training within the military branch.
According to leaked internal communications, the Air Force has stated that certain lesson plans have been altered to comply with new DEIA guidance.
“In accordance with NEW DEIA [iversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Acceptance] Guidance the lesson plans listed below have been changed/alternated to meet the guidance,” the message read.
The Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs played crucial roles in World War II, breaking barriers and paving the way for greater diversity in the U.S. military. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first African American military aviators in the U.S. Armed Forces, while the WASPs were civilian female pilots who tested and ferried military aircraft.
The removal of these historical narratives from basic training has raised concerns about potentially diminishing the recognition of these groups’ contributions and the importance of diversity in military history.
Controversy and Speculation
The decision to remove these videos has been met with criticism and speculation about the Air Force’s motives. Some observers have suggested that this move may be an act of “malicious obedience,” where orders are followed in a way that causes disruption or highlights potential flaws in the directive.
Critics argue that by removing content about the Tuskegee Airmen and WASPs, the Air Force may be inadvertently undermining its own diversity goals and historical legacy. The decision has been compared to past instances of military resistance to desegregation orders, raising questions about the intent behind the curriculum changes.
This curriculum revision is part of a larger trend of changes to diversity and inclusion programs within the Department of Defense. The Air Force’s decision reflects the ongoing debate about how to balance diversity initiatives with other military priorities and how to appropriately represent historical contributions of underrepresented groups in military training.
What do our readers think – are they doing this to just make Trump look bad? Because something just doesn’t seem right…