Racial Bias probe

The USCGA is competing with the big 3 SA's and other premiere universities for top candidates. They don't have the recruiting budget and are D3. The academy partner program is staffed by volunteers.
 
  1. While I understand this argument about CGA not using the congressional nomination process, the USCGA geographical representation ( https://www.collegefactual.com/coll...ife/diversity/chart-geographic-diversity.html ) does fairly closely align with the Active Duty force representation ( http://www.governing.com/gov-data/p...duty-employee-workforce-numbers-by-state.html ). MD/TX/VA/CA are some of the top contributors to CGA and are in the top for Active Duty as well. Although there are no cadets from OR, ID, UT, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, AR, LA, WV, those states have statistically zero active duty (<1% with exception on OR and LA). Just something to think about.

The statement that there are no cadets from the listed states above is incorrect. There ARE currently cadets attending USCGA from ALL the states that you listed above.
 
From the article:

"In one incident, when a white cadet played the song “If the South Woulda Won” in a black cadet’s room, the local NAACP said some were frustrated the white cadet was let off with an order to undergo sensitivity training."

This is incredibly insensitive, not only in that the white cadet played the song, but he or she played the song in the black cadet's room. This is completely inexcusable, if I was the Supe of USCGA I would've made sure that cadet knew he was a disgrace and tossed him in a second. The fact that he only got diversity training after something this egregious is beyond me.

From another article:

"It was August 2016 when Lt. Charles Lumpkin, a company officer, uttered the n-word to his cadets in an episode that has not been previously reported."

"Lumpkin, who used the word to show its offensive impact, was spoken to by a senior faculty member and apologized to his company of cadets but was not disciplined, academy officials said."

Incredible, a CO said N to his cadets and is still in the service with no disciplinary action. He claims he was trying to demonstrate that the word is offensive, but that makes no sense to me. Any reasonable person understands that the word is offensive. This Lieutenant does not deserve to wear the country's cloth and should have been discharged from the Coast Guard.
 
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While we may all agree that racial discrimination should not be tolerated in any form, please remember that the AP probably does not have access to all of the facts related to the identified cases. Let be careful about jumping to conclusions based on an incomplete information while the OIG completes its investigation.
 
While we may all agree that racial discrimination should not be tolerated in any form, please remember that the AP probably does not have access to all of the facts related to the identified cases. Let be careful about jumping to conclusions based on an incomplete information while the OIG completes its investigation.

I think the AP article gave appropriate context on the first issue. The two cadets were roommates and were debating racial issues such as NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem. The white cadet then played that song and changed the background on the black cadet's computer to a Mississippi state flag. The USCGA and DHS are, in my opinion, condoning racism and insensitivity by retaining that cadet. What that white cadet did was, in effect, taunting the black cadet by playing that video that invokes the historical injustices of segregation and slavery.
 
The statement that there are no cadets from the listed states above is incorrect. There ARE currently cadets attending USCGA from ALL the states that you listed above.

Alaska66 probably knows better than I do about cadet representation. As I’m sure he is correct, that is even better. I was trying to make the point that CGA doesn’t need the nomination process and that diversity should reflect where the CG is stationed as well as the enlisted ranks like others have stated. Thanks for the correction.
 
The officer Corp should represent the demographics of the enlisted.
+1 Alaskan

This is a substantial reason that four of the five federal service academies utilize the congressional nomination system. While not perfect, it does yield a more geographical diverse officer corps. It purposely does not create a population of 100% top standardized test takers. It also reduces the chances of our military leadership becoming dominated by any one region of the country.

  1. While I understand this argument about CGA not using the congressional nomination process, the USCGA geographical representation ( https://www.collegefactual.com/coll...ife/diversity/chart-geographic-diversity.html ) does fairly closely align with the Active Duty force representation ( http://www.governing.com/gov-data/p...duty-employee-workforce-numbers-by-state.html ). MD/TX/VA/CA are some of the top contributors to CGA and are in the top for Active Duty as well. Although there are no cadets from OR, ID, UT, MT, ND, SD, NE, KS, OK, AR, LA, WV, those states have statistically zero active duty (<1% with exception on OR and LA). Just something to think about.
This is not true. I personally know cadets from Oregon, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, and West Virginia. Not to say that they equal those of us from more "popular" parts of the country, but the fact remains. I believe my class represents either 48 or 49 of the States, plus at least one from PR and one from USVI, plus internationals.
 
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While we may all agree that racial discrimination should not be tolerated in any form, please remember that the AP probably does not have access to all of the facts related to the identified cases. Let be careful about jumping to conclusions based on an incomplete information while the OIG completes its investigation.

I think the AP article gave appropriate context on the first issue. The two cadets were roommates and were debating racial issues such as NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem. The white cadet then played that song and changed the background on the black cadet's computer to a Mississippi state flag. The USCGA and DHS are, in my opinion, condoning racism and insensitivity by retaining that cadet. What that white cadet did was, in effect, taunting the black cadet by playing that video that invokes the historical injustices of segregation and slavery.
Be careful to judge when you do not have complete information. The complete story was not reported by the press and the situation is not as you imply.
 
There are threads on this site that a simply ridiculous. This is one of them. Far too many posters make giant inferences into matters they do not and cannot fully understand. Their hyperbolic comments are not useful to those coming here to learn the means and methods of applying to our Academies or ROTC programs. Shamefully, some of these posts come from those who have served.

Posting links to articles is one thing...posting personal editorials from the sidelines is a whole other matter.

You don't know....please stop pretending you do.
 
This is probably one of the most stupid waste of taxpayer resources and time. I was in the class of 1990, and although I didn't graduate, I attend my reunions every 5 years. Nearly all of my classmates from 1990 are now retired "check of the month club", were involuntarily resigned like me, or are having an awesome continuing career in the best military service in the DoD.

On October 17th, 2018, Ms. Kimberly Perry contacted me on my never published, only owned by me, phone number. I don't know Ms. Perry, her rank or where she works. But she left me a voicemail stating she was with the Coast Guard Investigative service. I called her back and we talked for about 20 minutes but she emphatically refused to answer what the investigation was about or what it was concerning. She wanted to meet in person and initially I agreed. I thought this was rather strange since it took me over 9 months to get my VA loan validation when I was purchasing my second house. Why? Not to get sidetracked but people that have attended the USCGA but did not graduate, have no records in the national Veteran's Administration database. Apparently, only the Coast Guard Academy has not integrated their database with the VA!

So over 30 years after I was involuntarily resigned from the USCGA, I get a strange phone call out of the blue with a person that refuses to discuss most things on the phone and insists I meet them in person! I told her fine, I'll meet with you, as I have nothing to hide and I'll tell her what I know if I can remain anonymous.

She emphatically stated that it would be "on the record" and not anonymous and that I shouldn't talk to any of my classmates or anyone about this as not to taint the investigation. I said ok, I've nothing to hide really and my life is pretty much an open book. I imagined this had something to do with the #metoo movement or something else, but I was intrigued to know why the Coast Guard was talking to a person that never graduated, and only served 3 years active service AS A CADET!

We agreed to meet at a date and time through email. I notified Ms. Perry that I had a friend in town (not a CG classmate) and would like him to attend as my witness. She told me that he could not attend the interview unless he was my attorney. She also stated that she and a co-worker would meet with me.

Well now it doesn't sound like an interview, but an interrogation. She has a witness, but I'm not allowed one? (Once again this is just a buddy, who's never served in the military). Remembering back 31 years to my own Executive Board, holy hell, there's no way I'm going to meet with a governmental entity without an attorney, and I'm too lazy to hire one. I declined to meet with her but offered to answer any pertinent questions by email.

I doubt I'll ever hear from her again.

But here is my opinion on the subject matter:
It's a silly investigation and waste of resources. The only time I ever heard the N word spoken or used at the USCGA was when I had a black roommate and another black student would enter the room not realizing I was present. You dozens of roommates while living at the Academy. I had roommates that were from all races and backgrounds. No one used the N word with the exception of my black friends. There were no racial epithets used whether my roommate was Viet Namese, Hispanic, Phillipino, Italian, Black or White. I think the only race I didn't have as a roommate was Native American,... wait a minute, A native Costa Rican would be a Native American.

From a racial bias perspective, the only rule that was almost absolute was this: If you're either a racial minority or female and going to an executive board, you'll be reverted to the following class or lose your summer deployment to fix your grades or get into better shape, or work on your military skills. If you were white and male, you were gone. I didn't see systemic racial bias, but then again, I am white and male, and maybe I didn't witness it.
 
I think the AP article gave appropriate context on the first issue. The two cadets were roommates and were debating racial issues such as NFL players taking a knee during the national anthem. The white cadet then played that song and changed the background on the black cadet's computer to a Mississippi state flag. The USCGA and DHS are, in my opinion, condoning racism and insensitivity by retaining that cadet. What that white cadet did was, in effect, taunting the black cadet by playing that video that invokes the historical injustices of segregation and slavery.

what video are you talking about? there's no reference to a video.
 
My idea of diversity is not being a best one dimensional person. Likewise at the time of entry into the Academy and at the time of exit from one. Or possessing an advantage or disadvantage because of creed, color, race, level of family education, origination, or political party. But I do believe in Merit and person’s best example and dedication with good common sense and judgement.
 
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My idea of diversity is not being a best one dimensional person. Likewise at the time of entry into the Academy and at the time of exit from one. Or possessing an advantage or disadvantage because of creed, color, race, level of family education, origination, or political party. But I do believe in Merit and person’s best example and dedication with good common sense and judgement.

I agree that diversity does not mean a one dimensional person, as every cadet that gets accepted to the USCGA is a multifaceted high achiever! My class was 1990, and the Academy at the time, only accepted 330 out of 18000+ applicants. Our class only graduated 145 I believe. That's over a 50% attrition rate. Some of us left because we chose to, some of us left because we had to. Some, like me, were forced to. It took me 10 years to realize that the choices I made, created the failure I endured. Ironically, by the time I wanted to stay, the Coast Guard determined I wasn't fit. I was in the bottom 5% of my class militarily my 4th class year, but by my 2nd class year, I was in the top 25%!

I don't regret my experience as it made me the man I am now, and I will continue to attend my reunions. However, I really wanted to be a great leader, and a helicopter pilot! We don't always get what we want.

I doubt this investigation has anything to do with actually fixing a broken system. I think it has much more to do with covering your arse in a governmental, bureaucratic nightmare that is the federal government. Surprisingly! I think it was a good decision to involuntarily resign me! I suffer no fools and there's a lot of them in federal service.

I respect everyone that has served, and everyone in federal service as you had to sign the pledge. I agree that Merit is the best way to employ anyone, in any industry. If the Coast Guard is now seeking a way to embody that, I'm happy to have been an example of what to avoid.
 
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