Transcripts For CSPAN2 Leaders 20240704 : vimarsana.com

CSPAN2 Leaders July 4, 2024

[inaudible conversations] you may be seated. I ask unanimous consent that the chair be authorized to declare a recess at any time without objection so ordered. I ask members not on the subcommittee to participate and be allowed to ask questions after all subcommittee members have been recognized without objection so ordered. I want to recognize everyone to the curing of the subcommittee. Todays hearing is focused on admissions, curriculum and diversity of thought at the military Service Academies. I want to thank our witnesses for being with us today. I hopeo this hearing provides an opportunity for members to have a Productive Exchange with our witnesses and provide answers to their questions. First, let me say i believe our cadets are some of the best and brightest scholars and athletes are a nation has to offer. Each year a small group of americans enter the military Service Academy will not be easy sacrifice and hard work. In the end nearly a decade or more service to this great country. That is why we are here today to ensure that our cadets are getting the first class education and the elite military training that they need but i do have some concerns. All of the military Service Academies use race as selection criteria. As Justice Roberts said when striking down affirmative action eliminating Racial Discrimination means eliminating all of it. That equalga Protection Laws apy without regard to any differences of race or color or nationality. The Service Academies for race, color having no bearing to attack the rigors of the military Service Academy. It is for this reason that im particularly proud of the house of representatives work last weekms. They strongly affirm admission oto our Service Academies muste on the basis of merit not on skin color or ethnicity. We needic the best and the of racet regardless nothing else. I am also concerned that diversity equity and inclusion as well as theories like gender theory, Critical Race Theory, the list is endless have replaced a foundation of scientific facts and academic rigor. Brandnew air force cadets are taught inclusive language. They are told to use caregivers, guardians instead of mom and dad they are also told to use partner instead of boyfriend or girlfriend. This would be laughable if it was not so dangerous. Instead of being inclusive it simplyly makes it meaningless. It undermines academic rigor in the pursuit of scientific truth in an engineering school. At the Naval Academy instructors learn how to create safe spaces for students to fend off triggering materials, protect them from micro aggressions and shelter them from violent words. Never mindd that these students may one day lead sailors and marines into battle where there are no safe spaces and triggers said real bullets down range. All of this, the inclusive language, the safe spaces, the micro aggressions may hide under a sheen of inclusivity but it is actually an ideology that serves a purpose. That is to remake society according to one moral vision. Where truth is malleable. Words do violence in the answer to one plus one depends on your identity not reason and i am cot how a focus on race, identity and other de i programs impact the education of our cadets. How can a cadet or even an instructor expressing an opinion outside of the accepted ideology without being afraid of ridicule or being ostracized or worse, being called a racist. Good news has stories of professors not being sufficiently antiracist or expressing an opinion outside of the norm. Universities have websites dedicated to calling out students and professors on campuses for micro aggressions, publicly shaming them. M i am afraid that the Service Academies are not much different than these other elite universities. Dissent has been silenced in the free flow of ideas is a hallmark of Higher Education all but ceased. I am deeply concerned with the path our military Service Academies are on, particularly if they continue to violate the constitution and use race as a factor in admissions. Im also concerned about the future success of our cadets amidst considering the focus on divisive diversity programs that elevate the importance of identity over that of duty, honor and service. Before hearings, from our witnesses, let men offer Ranking Member an opportunity to make remarks as well. Thankd you, mr. Chair. I want to welcome our witnesses and look forward to your testimony. I want to thank vice admiral earlier this week. I hope to visit the rest of the military Service Commodities in the near future. I had a chance to meet with the recent graduates, members of the faculty and i will be honest, a lot of what i got to see in the conversation that we had came and painted a different picture than what the chairman just went through. Very often times, when we are talking about this here in congress, it makes it seemed like every single class in every single training session, every single element and hour of the day, whether its a military academies or other colleges and universities being spent talking about diversity, talking about deth i, talking about these different issuess we will be talking about today, that just simply is not the case. That is something i heard pointblank about a lot of the midshipmen from the recent graduates, from the faculty. When it came to admissions as well, talking about the whole person and how we can look at how we develop leaders for our country Going Forward. That was the focus. Not saying we are only looking at the issues of race, only looking at the issue that we are talking about today. I justst feel like we have beenn this hearing room several times already talking about these issues over and over again this year. What i wont say is when i talked with some of them and they raised other issues that are legitimate for us to focus in on about how we can improve their leadership training, their academics, but we are not getting to those types of issues in those priorities because we constantly keep coming back to this. Look, i just want to say that it is important for us to constantly think about what role Congress Plays when it comes to supporting this training and the development of our future t leaders. Yes, we should be thinking about what we can find, what we can support, but our job here is not to micromanage the faculty come up micromanage admissions project, giving them the tools is what we should be doing. So often we are here trying to say that we know better than those that are living this day in and day out. I find that to be a characteristic that i find too often here in congress trying to dictate how some of the most extraordinary leaders some of whom we have in front of us today trying to guide our country goingoi forward. We will have a lot of challenges getting through today i am sure there will be some tense moments. I just ask us to please think through the fact that every Single Person before us today is sharing the same goal that we have which is how do we make sure that we have the kind of leadership that we need Going Forward to keep our country safe to have a Strong National security. We are all in it for that same reason so lets make sure we keep this civil, respectful and recognizing that we have a lot of challenges Going Forward here in congress. Hopefully we can do this today in a way that does not devolve and does not get out of control. With that, i will yield back. Thank you, Ranking Member. Each witness will have the opportunity to present their testimony and each will have the opportunity to question the witnesses for five minutes. Your writtenen comments and statements were made part of the hearing record. With that, Lieutenant General, you may make your opening statement. Chairman banks, Ranking Member cam, distinguished members of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss this. On behalf of the west point team, thank you for your continued support of your military academy in your over 4400 future leaders in the United States courts cadets. Educating train and inspire leadershi of character. Through this mission we are charged with forging and developing the next generation of officers to lead the United States army greatest strengths and its most important weapon system. It soldiers, the citizens of our nations. The young men and women to build and leadd cohesive teams in the army of 2030 and beyond. We train leaders through values and standard system that foundational the military knowledge and professional skills needed to fight and win our nations wars. The moral character necessary to lead our nation sounds and daughters as army officers. Our corps of cadets all of whom chose to go to west point represent all 50 states in our u. S. Territories. They come from a variety of backgrounds and upbringing. What unites them is their shared commitment to serving their country, supporting and defending the constitution of the United States into our army values. Through our shared values that we develop the leaders of character our nation and the American People expect. We educate leaders with the creative and Critical Thinking skills necessary to lead, bribed and went on the battlefield. Through our world bust curriculum all underpinned by the constitution. We provide our graduates with the intellectual foundation needed. It west point does not teach cadets whatet to think, nor do e intellectually coddle them. Rather, we teach how to think. Pushing them beyond their Comfort Level to develop agile resilient thinkers who can successfully lead in complex on certain operating environments. Wewe also inspire the future officers who will lead our nations treasurer. The men and women from across our country who chose to serve as soldiers in the United States army. Every aspect of ourth developmental experience into the interactions of staff faculty coaches and alumni. Our cadets are exposed to the values and ideals necessary to uphold and enforce standards. To lead by example antibody what right looks like it to give soldiers under their charge the very best leadership. This is our responsibility and obligation to you and to the citizens of our nation. The United States military academy our vision is to be the preeminent Leader Development institution. To that end we continually strive to be the Gold Standard of Leader Development preparing and inspiringf the next generation of officers to live honorably, lead honorably and demonstrate excellence in the 21st century army. Leaders equip with the professional competence needed to fight and win, but more doportly possessed a tremendous character that leadership demands. I want to take an opportunity to think this committee and your colleagues for the support as west point continues with Recovery Efforts from the recent flooding in the hudson valley. I am very proud of the hard work and efforts and how west point falls in the communities and have come together to help support each otherri while demonstrating the great resiliencece and character the nation expects from its army. Forward to working closely with the army corps of engineers our management command and congress as we assess the damage and look to rebuild from the significant damage that has been incurred. I thank you again for the opportunity to discuss the state of the United States military academy with you today. I also invite you to come visit us and see firsthand these leaders in action. I am confident that they will inspire you also. I lookyo forward to your questions. Thank you. Thank you. Vice admiral buck. Chairman banks, Ranking Member cam, distinguished members ofhe the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf of your United States Naval Academy. The Naval Academy is a hundred position iss to do it morally mentally andit physically with e highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service. More than any organization ive been associated with in my 40 years as a naval officer, every the academy our faculty, staff, coaches understand and are committed to this mission. We strive to s be the vermeer leadership for developing naval officers who will preserve peace and prevailing conflicts. I believe and more importantly the feedback from the operational fleet confirms that we are succeeding in our mission. Enter go to that success has been the support of congress. Accomplishing this Mission Starts with our admissions process. We strive to recruit and admit young women and men reflective of the nation they will serve. Each incoming class should be a crosssection of america and your role in this process specifically nominating candidates for a a mission is critical to our success. Knowing that we are charged with developing future leaders for our navy and marine corps, the United States Naval Academy uses a holistic process. A whole person assessment and evaluating each candidate for a mission. This assessment balances objective factors included in each application or each candidates application such as rank, class rank, gpa, evaluations fromci school officials,th specifically their english and math teachers, athletic and nonathletic activities and achievements, leadership and candidate Fitness Assessment results with subjective factors. These subjective factors can help forecast attributes such as character and resilience that we desire in all of our future officers. Once these young patriots where their oath to our nation on injunction date late june every year, we have 47 and a half months to develop them into resilient competent leaders of character ready for an operational environment that is increasingly dynamic. Today, perhaps, more so than in the past, a Firm Foundation in mathematics, physical sciences, engineering principles and knowledge of the human condition is paramount. Academy is designed to provide a Robust Foundation in these areas for every graduate and future officer. A variety of backgrounds among our faculty, staff and, most importantly, theberry grade, creates an educational experience enhanced by differing perspectives enhanced by differing expectancies to sharpen Critical Thinking skills and lead in a diverse environment. A Common Thread throughout curriculum is we teach students how to think, not what to think. The economy expects graduates to become clinical thinkers able to come to their own conclusion based on a wide variety of perspectives theys are exposed to. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on behalf t of the Naval Academy. Any esteemed leaders in congress is the Naval Academy and constituents, i welcome members of the subcommittee and staff to visit campus at any time. Look forward to your questions. Chairman thanks, other english members of the committee, good afternoon and on behalf of the men and women of the United States air force academy, thank you for all you do to support the a development and enables success of not only Academy Mission but ultimately the mission of the air force space force as we prepare leaders of character ready to take on the challenges of rapidly changing increasingly world. We collaborate and im honored to have my mom and dad here today, thank you for your unending support. Our academy is on upward trajectory and others shared with universities and communities across our country and my daily interaction leaves me proud and inspired but we still have some work to do upholding this standard. Three priorities to recognize and overcome the only todays challenges but also those who are graduates in an era of rapid change. My First Priority is one that will be the core purpose of our academy and develop leaders of character to lead our air force in space force. The leadership and the hallmark of air force academy graduate. We put core values into actions is something we call the leader of character framework when we put integrity first, we are inviting what it means and we are committed to service for ourselves and enables us to live so theres at our own expense and we demonstrate excellence in all we do and elevate performance both as individuals and across our community the mindset to be better every day than we were the day before. We must embrace the framework and make it part of our personal leadership. These values willth ensure we prepare cadets to be c leaders f our nations. We are war fighters. Cannot afford to fall behind on air, space, cyberspace. A significant challenge both great c challenges and great opportunities for us to be drivers of change and militarily we are focused on National Security challenge china, russia making sure you develop critical thinkers for the

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