WASHINGTON – Topโข Navy Admiral Michael Gilday publicly defended a non-binary sailor’s right to serve, rebuffing criticism โคfrom some Republican โlawmakers โขwho have questioned the military’s focus on diversity initiatives amid ongoing recruitment โคchallenges. The defense came during a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday, where Gilday was pressed on the Navy’sโฃ policies regarding gender identity.
The exchange underscores a growing tension between the Biden administration’s push for greater inclusivity within โคthe armedโฃ forces and resistance โคfrom some Republicans who argue such efforts distract from โฃmilitary readiness and contribute to declining enlistment numbers. While the โฃNavy and other branches have maintained โthat diversity training and inclusive policies do not โdetract from combat effectiveness, critics pointโ to recruitmentโ shortfalls as evidence to the โcontrary.During the hearing, Representative Jim Banks questioned Gilday about the Navy’s decision to allow a non-binary sailor, Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica O’Brien, to serve openly and use the pronouns they/them in official communications. Banks suggested the Navy was prioritizing “wokeness” over readiness.
Gilday โคresponded firmly, stating, “Petty Officer O’Brien is a โhighly โqualified sailor, and they are serving honorably. I stand by my decision to allow them to serve openly.” He added โฃthat the Navy’s focus remains on maintaining a combat-ready force, and that diversity is a strength.
The admiral’s comments echo similar defenses offered by other military leaders in recent months. In March, Sergeant major of the Army Michael Grinston testified โbefore Congress that despite additional training on diversity and inclusion, theโ military’s primary focus remains on “combat lethality.” Grinston highlighted that recruits receive substantially more training in rifle marksmanship – 92 hours in basic training,and 165 hours in One Station Unit Training – than inโฃ equal opportunity training,which comprises โjust one hour.Recent data suggests concerns about “wokeness” are not a primary driver of recruitment difficulties. โAnโ Army survey revealed that only 5% of potential recruits expressed concernโ about suchโ issues. However, Republicanโ lawmakers, including Representative Cory Mills, have continued โto voice opposition to diversity, equity, andโฃ inclusion โtraining, withโ Mills quipping, “Weโ absolutely 150% can out-pronoun every โsingle one of our adversaries.”
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Gil โฃCisneros has countered these claims, noting that diversity and equal opportunity training haveโข been integral to the military for decades. The debate โขis highly likely to continue as the Pentagonโ grapples withโฃ ongoing recruitment challenges and seeks to balance inclusivity with maintaining a highly effective fighting force.
