Congressman Derek Tran, Colleagues Sound the Alarm Concerning Recent Ban on Military Academy Cadet Activities
Washington, DC – Congressman Derek Tran, with Congresswoman Chrissy Houlahan, led a coalition of 14 Democratic members of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) in a letter to Lieutenant General Steven W. Gilland, Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (USMA), concerning the abrupt disbanding of twelve select Directorate of Cadet Activities (DCA) sanctioned clubs.
The letter details specific concerns that these actions will damage morale and professional development of future military leaders in addition to depressing opportunities for military readiness and recruitment. Additionally, members note that organizations serving minority groups were disproportionately impacted by the order.
“I am deeply concerned that the United States Military Academy (USMA) implemented President Trump’s haphazard and misguided order without fully understanding the implications of these actions. As the son of Vietnamese refugees, my background strengthened my commitment to my duty as a soldier - this order treats my heritage, and that of so many others, as a distraction or, worse, an impediment,” said Congressman Derek Tran (CA-45). “I look forward to working with the USMA to take steps that will actually improve cadet training and unit cohesion instead of distracting our cadets with political stunts.”
“School-sanctioned clubs for cadets improve learning engagement, help students find their place in a challenging environment, and enhance leadership skills they will need throughout their careers," said Houlahan. "Removing clubs like the Society of Women Engineers, the National Society of Black Engineers and the Japanese Forum Club while leaving others intact, including the German Club, is blatantly discriminatory and a disservice to our cadets and to our nation. Our military service academies must continue to be bastions for unique leadership experiences, not the reverse. I look forward to this decision being reversed."
Last week, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point moved to disband cultural clubs following President Trump's executive order last week to abolish diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the Defense Department and the Coast Guard. Col. Chad R. Foster, the deputy commandant of West Point, issued a memo detailing changes “in accordance with recent Presidential executive orders.”The memo listed sanctioned clubs that were disbanded, including the Vietnamese-American Cadet Association, the Asian-Pacific Forum Club, Japanese Forum Club, Korean-American Relations Seminar, Society of Women Engineers Club, and the National Society of Black Engineers Club.
A selection from the letter states the following:
We understand first-hand how military DCA sanctioned clubs can play an essential role in
fostering leadership, camaraderie, and specialized skill development among cadets. Stripping
cadets of essential opportunities to build leadership experience and military cohesion will harm
overall readiness of the total force. These organizations provide invaluable opportunities for
cadets to engage in career-specific mentorship and cultural exchange, which directly contribute
to their effectiveness as officers.
We also observe a troubling trend among affinity clubs that remain unaffected. For
example, in the memo, the Vietnamese-American Cadet Association, the Asian-Pacific Forum
Club, Japanese Forum Club, Korean-American Relations Seminar, Society of Women Engineers
Club, and the National Society of Black Engineers Club, among others, were specifically
disbanded. However, the West Point Polish Club (also known as the Kosciuszko Squadron),
German Language Club, and West Point French Forum were not. This selective disbanding of
clubs, under a broad interpretation of recent Presidential Executive Orders, seems to
disproportionately target select minority groups that have long enriched and added value to the
military experience of countless officers and enlisted military personnel.
Finally, these actions send a chilling message to prospective recruits that the military does
not see value in activities that expose our officers to diverse thoughts and experiences. At a time
when military recruitment is already facing significant challenges, policy changes such as these
diminish the traditions and institutions that attract highly motivated individuals to military service.
Read the Full Letter HERE.
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