Progressive social justice trends appear to be creeping into the Air Force Academy, as an academy first sergeant was reprimanded for instructing cadets to maintain a professional appearance, emails reveal.

“Observations made by USAFA [United States Air Force Academy] permanent party members regarding cadet grooming standards have become increasingly unfavorable,” First Sergeant Zachary Parish apparently wrote in a leaked email to cadets. “Going forward, I expect you all to do your part in reversing negative perceptions about cadet personal appearance that circulates USAFA and diminishes your credibility as a member in the profession of arms.”

The first sergeant then advised the cadets in his charge to be like Mike.

“Before Michael Jordan became a clothing brand mogul, he was actually pretty good professional basketball player,” Parish wrote, “In the later years of his career, and before the NBA’s dress code existed, he would consistently appear at press conferences in a suit and tie. He was never seen with a gaudy chain around his neck, his pants below his waistline, or with a backwards baseball hat on during public appearances.”

“Michael Jordan understood the value of a professional appearance,” he told the cadets.

“Cadets, how do you want to be seen? If the answer is not as a military professional, then perhaps you are in the wrong place,” Parish concluded his email.

A colonel then embarrassed the first sergeant publicly, accusing Parish of committing “microaggressions.”

“On behalf of all [Cadet Wing] Sr Leadership and permanent party members, let me apologize for the email sent earlier today by our First Sergeant,” Col. Julian Stephens wrote to cadets. He called the comments “disrespectful, derogatory, and unprofessional,” he promised to address this microaggression immediately.

It appears that the original email was brought to the colonel’s attention by someone else at the academy. “Please continue to be vigilant,” the colonel said, adding that everyone should treat one another with “dignity” and “respect.”

Both Parish and Stephens refused to answer questions, directing the Daily Caller News Foundation to the academy public affairs office.

“Yes, we can confirm the authenticity of the email exchange regarding cadet standards at the Academy,” the academy media relations office told TheDCNF.

“The comments were inappropriate. We have a responsibility for how we communicate and if anyone feels disrespected by someone’s words, we take that very seriously. We need to take responsibility immediately and learn from it as we move forward,” the academy further explained, adding that the incident is being addressed.

The commandant is making dignity and respect a priority for her staff.

Link

Human evolution has taken a U-Turn.

Seriously??? We've become so thin-skinned that an email about maintaining a professional appearance is considered a 'microaggression'?

How do these people survive in the real world?

as I recall, it was part of our NCO's frickin JOB to keep us STRAC.

And they weren't generally subtle about it. "In the Army you might look good. Need transfer papers?"

Oh for fuck’s sake

quote:

disrespectful, derogatory, and unprofessiona

I think they should print the parts of the email that the above quote is referencing. The portions quoted are in no way disrespectful, derogatory, or unprofessional. If this is truly the extent of the letter I would like the Colonel removed from his position and moved to a position where he can't further ruin our military or retire.

What the....

Microaggressions?

Some of these folks will be in charge of billion dollar aircraft or nukes...

I think I would like to know if they are not stable enough to handle a "micro" aggression...

(Whatever that is)

I think the training should be something like this...

Foley: [Speaking to the newly-arrived recruits] ... I know why most of you are here; we weren't born yesterday. Before you get to join United Airlines and sell them what we teach, you gotta give the Navy six years of your life! Lots of things can happen in six years, including another war. And if any of you are too peace-loving to dump napalm on an enemy village where there MIGHT be women and children, that's what I'm here to discover...! I expect to lose at least half of you before I'm finished. I will use every means necessary, fair and unfair, to trip you up - that is, to expose your weaknesses... both as a potential aviator, and as a human being. The prize at the other end is a flight education worth $1 million! But first, you gotta get past ME.

Well golly gee, if they can't handle that type of "micro aggression" how the hell are they going to handle dropping bombs or god forbid, launching nukes???????????????????????

Any Officer who believes in microagressions should be discharged.

Col. Julian Stephens Needs to go away! Un f’ing believable!

I bet the problem was in mentioning the baggy pants, backward caps, etc as 'unprofessional.' This can be interpreted as racist, as many blacks dress like that.

Still sounds like a load of BS, though. Whenever anybody mentuons 'micro-aggressions,' I generally discount everything they say.

I guess I have to laugh. I learned from my college faculty training, focusing on social justice-tolerance-diversity, that most white males are guilty of micro aggression without even knowing it. (Most white males are also selfish and privileged).

Seems to me the AF Academy is getting quite immersed in social justice these days.

quote:

Originally posted by jsbcody:
Well golly gee, if they can't handle that type of "micro aggression" how the hell are they going to handle dropping bombs or god forbid, launching nukes???????????????????????

Or throwing a grenade.

quote:

Originally posted by Some Shot:
Any Officer who believes in microagressions should be discharged.

I don’t recall thinking LT. Tarver’s criticism of the difference between what was desired at OCS and how we looked was considered micro aggression, in language, tone or volume.

Joe-Shit-the-Ragman was one of the kinder things I was called in the Officer Candidate Course at Quantico.

I don't recall that name calling was as bad as the 140mm rockets the NVA launched at us with stunning frequency, so I guess I'll get over it.

They need to root this thinking out of the military now before it gets too bad. I really don't know how or why they would let this micro-aggression BS proliferate like it has.

It's like they are afraid that someone might get their feelings hurt even just a little bit.

These are really crazy times we are living in.

Completely disgusting. That asshat needs to be fired.

quote:

Originally posted by JALLEN:
Progressive social justice trends appear to be creeping into the Air Force Academy...

Progressive SJW trends were popular at USAFA when the current Commandant (A Brig. Gen.) was a cadet.
- USAFA was talking about political correctness back when Monica Lewinski was in college.
- CO Rep. Pat Schroeder's dream came true when "Bring Me Men" was removed from above the ramp. The words come from the title of a poem by Samuel W. Foss. Shroeder may have hated it, but most of the female cadets I knew found the poem inspirational.
- This is the same USAFA that sacked a Commandant in the Aughts for telling a female cadet that playing drunken strip poker may not be a smart life choice.
- I knew a cadet who claimed he was dismissed for being "too conservative" because he expressed doubt about being able to serve under Bill Clinton.

At the Air Force level, I remember sitting through mandatory "All Men Are Rapists" briefings 8-10 years ago.

I'm willing to bet that 2/3 of the O-6's are clones of Col Stephens. All they care about is not letting one of those dirty underlings ruin their shot at O-7. Ladies and gentlemen, this is YOUR modern Air Force.

I would note that we haven't won a war since USAFA opened. (I suppose you could argue DESERT STORM, but I submit we're still fighting in Iraq.) Perhaps it's time to close it down and sell 18,000 acres of prime front-range real estate.

Is the current Commandant a “her” as written in the article? If so I guarantee you that has some bearing on the reprimand that was issued.
The Air Force should only be about blowing shit up from air planes in support of American ideals, nothing else, well done professionally of course!