The United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Col. is teaching new cadets to stop saying “mom” and “dad,” and instead to use words that recognize other possible genders.
The lesson slide titled, “Diversity & Inclusion: What it is, why we care, & what we can do,” tells cadets to use gender-neutral language whenever possible, including saying “y’all” and “folks” instead of saying men, women, male or female. Boyfriends and girlfriends are to be called “partners.”
The lesson includes advice to avoid “stereotypes, bias, and microaggressions.” Cadets are also told not to use the terms “you guys,” “terrorists,” or even “colorblind.”
The Air Force Academy has pushed back against the intense criticism is has received, issuing a statement that says, “It is the diversity of Airmen and Guardians coming from all corners of our nation who perform the Department of the Air Force’s hundreds of critical mission sets that make us the best, most innovative Air and Space Forces the world has ever known.”
They did it: They used the word “airmen” in their statement.
“USAFA develops leaders of character that can lead diverse teams of Airmen and Guardians inclusively, to enhance innovation and win future conflict,” the Academy spokesperson said.
Oops. They did it again.
In addition, the storied institution has encouraged men who identify as men, also known as “cisgender men” to not apply for a fellowship that is set aside for what the academy refers to as “gender minorities.”
The academy sent an email on Sept. 14 informing cadets that the 2023 application for the Brooke Owens Fellowship for “undergraduate women and gender minorities interested in aerospace” is due by Oct. 10.
The application for the Brooke Owens Fellowship is “People of your gender are underrepresented in aerospace. If you are a cisgender woman, a transgender woman, non-binary, agender, bigender, two-spirit, demigender, genderfluid, genderqueer, or another form of gender minority, this program is for you. If you are a cisgender man, this program isn’t for you..”
