BSCAR
Member
- Joined
- May 17, 2015
- Messages
- 219
The third prompt for the cadet statement on the USMA class of 2021 application is as follows: "West Point and the Army are committed to the idea that respect for others and an understanding of diversity are important leadership traits. Why will you be successful in working with leaders, peers, and subordinates of a gender, color, ethnicity, and/or religion different from your own?"
Now, I truly feel that in today's society we place far too much stock into diversity--often at the expense of meritocracy. Moreover, an army fights as a unit, not a conglomerate of individuals. Such focus on the differences between soldiers is destructive to unit cohesion and the esprit de corps of the army as a whole.
Do I speak my mind in the cadet statement and challenge the political orthodoxy or do I bite the bullet and make up some bs that conforms to what they want to hear? Normally there wouldn't be any question as to what I'd do; I'd speak my mind. But, I don't want to run the risk of not being admitted because I can't keep my mouth shut.
Now, I truly feel that in today's society we place far too much stock into diversity--often at the expense of meritocracy. Moreover, an army fights as a unit, not a conglomerate of individuals. Such focus on the differences between soldiers is destructive to unit cohesion and the esprit de corps of the army as a whole.
Do I speak my mind in the cadet statement and challenge the political orthodoxy or do I bite the bullet and make up some bs that conforms to what they want to hear? Normally there wouldn't be any question as to what I'd do; I'd speak my mind. But, I don't want to run the risk of not being admitted because I can't keep my mouth shut.