In a world where some folks are busy trying to redefine what it means to serve, Pete Heth has stepped up to remind everyone that the military is about duty, honor, and, let’s face it, a really bad haircut for everyone. Recently, Heth made an appearance that could almost be described as a “come to Jesus” moment for the Department of Defense and its recent obsession with all things Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). It’s time, he says, to pull the weeds out of the garden of our armed forces—specifically, the DEI and Critical Race Theory initiatives that seem to be wreaking havoc on the values that have long defined our military.
Heth put it frankly when he argued that we need to “tear out DEI and CRT initiatives root and branch.” And who could disagree? After all, who wants to serve alongside someone who got their position based on a quota and not on their ability to kick some serious tail? According to Heth, if America is going to align its military leadership with those who actually defend the country, we must ensure that the top brass—Army, Navy, Air Force secretaries and all—are committed to the same priorities as the Commander-in-Chief. It’s a simple recipe: keep the focus on military readiness, not social experimentation.
Among the more biting comments, Heth drew a clear line between “equity” and “equality.” Now, for those who might be scratching their heads, allow him to explain. Equality treats everyone the same based on their character and abilities. Everyone wears the same uniform, follows the same regulations, and shares the same not-so-holy experience of that questionable military haircut. However, “equity” adds a sprinkle of division. Forget about your skill set; they’re here to judge you based on how you look or what group you belong to, which sounds like a bad reality show rather than a disciplined military.
When you start judging men and women in uniform not by how well they can navigate a crisis, but by the color of their skin or their gender, you’re setting up an elaborate scoring system that could only succeed in kicking morale straight into the abyss. Imagine you’re a soldier who just aced the toughest training course, only to discover that someone else got a promotion because they met a specific demographic criteria. Talk about a recipe for resentment and chaos! Heth emphasized that this kind of poison erodes the very fabric of trust and teamwork that’s essential in the armed services.
The conclusion? If this country wants its military to be the best, it needs to strip away the distractions and return to focusing on what really matters—the skills and dedication of its service members. In a time when we need strong leaders, Heth’s message is clear: let’s get back to basics, where crew cuts and camaraderie—rather than quotas and conflicts—hold sway. Here’s to hoping the powers that be are listening, because the only thing that should be dividing our military ranks is the line of enemy combatants they’re trained to confront.
