Pentagon Official Champions Inclusivity for Nonbinary Service Members, Emphasizing Readiness and Well-being

Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks highlights the importance of supporting "nonbinary service members" and addressing "unconscious bias" within the military, asserting that these initiatives contribute to readiness and national security.

The Pentagon's second-highest-ranking official, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks, has repeatedly voiced her commitment to supporting "nonbinary service members" and fostering diversity and inclusion within the military. At multiple Pride events, Hicks has emphasized that these efforts are crucial for maintaining military readiness and ensuring the well-being of service members.

Speaking at a DoD Pride event in June, Hicks acknowledged concerns about policies affecting nonbinary individuals, saying, "Our commitment is resolute, just as it has been over the past three-and-a-half years, to continue our progress in full alignment with our focus on readiness and our focus on the well-being of our people, on which our readiness depends."

Pentagon Official Champions Inclusivity for Nonbinary Service Members, Emphasizing Readiness and Well-being

The Pentagon has stated that there are no specific policies designed solely for "nonbinary" service members. Nonetheless, Hicks has emphasized the need for the military to be inclusive of all individuals, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

In addition to supporting "nonbinary service members," Hicks has also stressed the importance of addressing "unconscious bias" within the military. Unconscious bias refers to implicit biases that individuals may hold without realizing them, potentially leading to unfair or discriminatory behavior.

Pentagon Official Champions Inclusivity for Nonbinary Service Members, Emphasizing Readiness and Well-being

Hicks believes that addressing unconscious bias through military training is essential for "warfighting success." In her remarks at a DoD Pride event in 2022, she stated, "Recruiting, developing and retaining a highly skilled military and civilian workforce of diverse talent is essential to our warfighting success."

While proponents of diversity and inclusion policies within the military argue that such initiatives enhance readiness, some critics on Capitol Hill express concerns that the Biden administration is prioritizing these agendas at the expense of national security.

Pentagon Official Champions Inclusivity for Nonbinary Service Members, Emphasizing Readiness and Well-being

Republican lawmakers, such as Senator Eric Schmitt and Senator Marco Rubio, have criticized the Pentagon's focus on "woke" diversity and inclusion programs. They argue that these efforts detract from more pressing issues related to national security and undermine the meritocracy that has historically been a cornerstone of the military.

In response to the Pentagon's statement that "diversity is a strategic imperative critical to mission readiness and accomplishment," Senator Bob Good remarked, "Each article should have at least 10 paragraphs. This Administration has made implementing woke [DEI] initiatives a more important mission than protecting Americans."

Pentagon Official Champions Inclusivity for Nonbinary Service Members, Emphasizing Readiness and Well-being

Despite these criticisms, Hicks and other Pentagon officials maintain that diversity and inclusion are essential for the military's future success. Hicks has stated that "a climate that supports 'dialogue' on DEI was key to national defense." She believes that fostering inclusive environments and addressing unconscious bias will ultimately make the military stronger and more capable of meeting future challenges.