In the face of mounting Republican criticisms that the military is becoming overly “woke,” Army Secretary Christine Wormuth pushed back, asserting that such critiques are exacerbating an already troubling recruiting crisis. As the military contends with its most severe recruitment challenge since transitioning to an all-volunteer model over 50 years ago, Wormuth’s remarks shed light on the complex issues at play.
Addressing reporters last week, Wormuth emphatically stated, “We are a ready Army, not a ‘woke’ Army.” She emphasized that both she and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville consistently reiterated this position during posture season hearings and meetings with members of Congress.
The military branches have faced criticism from some quarters that they prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion classes and training over combat readiness. Critics argue that these perceived “woke” policies are hindering the military’s preparedness to fight the nation’s wars.
Among the branches, the Army, being the largest, has been hit particularly hard by the ongoing recruiting crisis. Falling short of its fiscal year 2022 goals by 15,000 recruits, the Army continues to struggle and anticipates missing its 2023 targets. Despite recent optimism expressed by leaders like Wormuth, the uphill battle remains.
Wormuth cited the “woke” criticism as an additional obstacle the Army must confront. She noted that declining trust in the military stems from concerns about its leaders’ politicization, a sentiment shared by individuals on both sides of the political aisle. She expressed hope that the military would not be further dragged into politicized spaces, as it creates the erroneous perception of military leaders being political, despite their non-partisan roles.
However, not everyone shares Wormuth’s perspective. Figures like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a prominent GOP contender for the 2024 presidential primary, argue that the military’s shift toward “woke” policies contributes to the ongoing recruitment crisis. DeSantis, who served in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General Corps, cited an increased emphasis on political ideologies and topics like gender pronouns and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) as detrimental to recruitment efforts.
Acknowledging the impact of the perception that the military has gone “woke” on recruitment challenges, Wormuth maintained that the problem stems from political rhetoric rather than any specific military policies. She cautioned against the counterproductive effects of relentless criticism regarding a “woke military,” stressing the need for a balanced approach to avoid further hindrances to recruitment.
As the military faces a critical recruitment shortfall, the ongoing debate surrounding “woke” policies and the politicization of military leaders adds complexity to the challenges they must overcome. The Army, in particular, strives to strike a delicate balance between addressing diversity and inclusion issues while maintaining its core mission of preparedness to defend the nation.
