For the grads here, what is this “Unity” letter I got in the mail all about?

Z

ZoomieFrom1994

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At first glance, it appears to be a group of just 4 grads who want to amend the AOG bylaws in an attempt to steer USAFA away from DEI initiatives and return the Academy to being a “meritocracy”.

As you can imagine, the comments from both my class FaceBook page and the Alumni Career and Networking FaceBook page are very opinionated and divisive.

The last time there was a huge split in the AOG, I was nosy enough to look at the AOG’s Form 990’s. There was a huge drop off in revenue to the AOG after the split became public. As far as I know, revenue to the AOG never picked up again.

I’ll try attaching some pics to this post. One pic will be the 2023 USAFA AOG Form 990. The other will be the West Point AOG Form 990 for 2022. West Point revenue blows us away.
 

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Can you share this letter with those of us who or unfamiliar with it?
 
cnrsie said:
It's more Trump-Supporting / Nazi-party members trying to get their politics into our Academy. Because the elementary and high schools are not enough apparently. This is being posted by what they call a RINO (another name for people who can't stand them) who's embarrassed by what my party has become. Sad.
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Thank you for your take on the subject. It's always good to see opinions that aren't rooted in personal politics.
 
usafa1993 said:
I've looked through their website and they want a return to fundamentals.
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Agree. Our AOG sq rep has added that their position seems to be one of moving from an advisory role with leadership (by request only) into a more proactive (you didn't ask for it, but here it is) relationship.
 
raimius said:
Nothing like calling fellow grads "Nazi-party members" without any basis...

...but hey, integrity first.
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No kidding. I've watched Matt Lohmeier represent himself exceedingly well. He easily and fearlessly dismantled Congressmen challenging him on his observations and experiences regarding DEI initiatives at the Space Force. It was refreshing. He's also a T-38 FAIP and F-15 pilot - are those still considered decent achievements in today's, New Air Force? Or are they toxic-masculinity, Trump-loving positions?

But, hey, if you find Lohmeier intimidating and his positions threatening to your social agenda, you probably should call him Nazi Party Member. Character assassination on the internet is free and painless. That's what USAFA is matriculating now, and that's what Lohmeier, et al, including me, do not prefer. The previous poster (the Non-Nazi-Member, Trump Hating guy) is exactly who we are targeting. Not for his politics, but his character.
 
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usafa1993 said:
I've watched Matt Lohmeier represent himself exceedingly well.
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My concern with Lohmeier is his willingness to allow others to misrepresent his departure from the AF. He did not "lose his pension" as has been widely reported.. He never had one to begin with since he resigned his commission prior to 20 years of service. I would have much preferred him to squash these stories by explaining the facts around his resignation. In doing so, he would not have lessened the merit of his views regarding DEI/wokeism and would have only burnished his credentials as a stand-up guy.
 
soccer67 said:
Agree. Our AOG sq rep has added that their position seems to be one of moving from an advisory role with leadership (by request only) into a more proactive (you didn't ask for it, but here it is) relationship.
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I agree, and I will take it a step further. From the recommended revisions to the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the AOG it is clear that they believe that dissenting viewpoints have been excluded. Toe the party-line from the Pentagon, and do not make waves. Get on board the agenda for the big win. Well ... these dudes are all retired stakeholders, and they do not need to swap their integrity for a promotion.

Specifically, "will ensure balanced communications between all corporation [AOG] members and encourage and guarantee the expression of non-censored opposing views, regarding policies at the at the Air Force Academy or within the Armed Forces."

This agenda, their agenda, is spelled out crystal-clearly on the landing page. It is a threat to the status quo. Yes - I have decided to support it.

unityslate.us

Home - Unity Slate

Proposed changes to the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws of the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates as amendments to be voted on as part of the Board of Directors election ballot in February 2025.
unityslate.us unityslate.us
 
soccer67 said:
My concern with Lohmeier is his willingness to allow others to misrepresent his departure from the AF. He did not "lose his pension" as has been widely reported.. He never had one to begin with since he resigned his commission prior to 20 years of service. I would have much preferred him to squash these stories by explaining the facts around his resignation. In doing so, he would not have lessened the merit of his views regarding DEI/wokeism and
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"They" are mischaracterizing his departure from the Space Force as something other than being fired for being a very meticulous whistleblower. For as smart as Lohmeier is, he should have known the type of people with whom he was dealing (maybe he did, which makes his actions all the more impressive). And those same types do not want him on the AOG board. They are fearing what he (and his cohort) will be when he is no longer on the payroll, no longer under UCMJ, and he doesn't have to call them "sir."

The battle lines are grads against grads. I am against Gen Whiting (c/o '89) and his ilk. What he did to Lohmeier was despicable and cowardly, and it is indicative of what drives him, i.e. another star. They gave it to him this year. Horray for him. Whiting has implemented the agenda at Space Force exceedingly well, and he quickly dealt with all barriers. Whether or not the Space Force, as implemented, is an abject humiliation to the United States and USAFA is a question directly relating to this topic and the efforts of this "Unity" group. (As prefaced in my opening line of this paragraph, I think their title may be a misnomer).
 
The group’s goals are similar to the STARRS organization. I signed the petition not because of my die-hard beliefs, as I really don’t know what the AOG does and doesn’t do. However, I am always open for an honest debate on the issues.

I have a lot of classmates that discourage their children from serving. Many were career officers I deeply respect. This is concerning to me as it signals that something is off quilter. And our military is very dependent on the sons and daughters of former military to fill the ranks.

The AOG actively solicits me for donations. If they want my money, they should be able to articulate what they do and members should be able to challenge how they intend to serve us and the Academy.

It’s no different from stockholders challenging a board of directors.
 
Cerberi said:
The group’s goals are similar to the STARRS organization. I signed the petition not because of my die-hard beliefs, as I really don’t know what the AOG does and doesn’t do. However, I am always open for an honest debate on the issues.

I have a lot of classmates that discourage their children from serving. Many were career officers I deeply respect. This is concerning to me as it signals that something is off quilter. And our military is very dependent on the sons and daughters of former military to fill the ranks.

The AOG actively solicits me for donations. If they want my money, they should be able to articulate what they do and members should be able to challenge how they intend to serve us and the Academy.

It’s no different from stockholders challenging a board of directors.
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"I have a lot of classmates that discourage their children from serving."

My son made the decision to enlist in the military a little over a year ago. I gave him my takes on the different branches, but deliberately avoided making suggestions or showing bias.

I was very pleased when he decided on the Marine Corps. It seems like the only branch that I can still identify with. 30 years ago I would have had an entirely different opinion.

"If they want my money, they should be able to articulate what they do and members should be able to challenge how they intend to serve us and the Academy."

Thank you for articulating and stating that. So fundamental, but something a lot of people miss. Unlike a publicly-traded-company corporate board, the AOG membership is small enough that we can actually function as activist investors.
 
Thank you usafa1993 for your posts.

What you wrote is quite the breath of fresh air versus what I have been reading on a couple of FaceBook pages: my own class’s FB and the “Alumni Career and Networking” FB page.

My class reunion is about a month away….with the election about 2 and half weeks after that. Some conversations with my old classmates then could turn interesting
 
If I had any children, I am sorry to say that this next pic sums up my feelings about them serving in today’s military:

32009F3D-F9A8-4171-A3AE-8871BE3DC428.jpeg
 
ZoomieFrom1994 said:
The last time there was a huge split in the AOG, I was nosy enough to look at the AOG’s Form 990’s. There was a huge drop off in revenue to the AOG after the split became public. As far as I know, revenue to the AOG never picked up again.

I’ll try attaching some pics to this post. One pic will be the 2023 USAFA AOG Form 990. The other will be the West Point AOG Form 990 for 2022. West Point revenue blows us away.
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In fairness to USAFA, it looks like the AFA Foundation is currently receiving far more in contributions than the AOG does, and the AFA AOG and Foundation 990s show roughly equivalent amounts of net assets. That said, WP AOG does blow away the AFA and AFA Foundation combined (and is also a fair amount ahead of the Naval Academy Foundation and Alumni Association combined).
 
Just received an e-mail from the AOG regarding the Unity correspondence mentioned in these posts. Other than to let me know that the Unity group got my e-mail address from the AOG, I'm not too sure what the point of their message was. Perhaps someone may have a comment on this.
 
soccer67 said:
Just received an e-mail from the AOG regarding the Unity correspondence mentioned in these posts. Other than to let me know that the Unity group got my e-mail address from the AOG, I'm not too sure what the point of their message was. Perhaps someone may have a comment on this.
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I just think the AOG wanted us to know they were required by state law to provide the information requested.

I personally am not a fan of people / organizations giving out my information. So it was a heads up that Unity asked and the AOG had to comply.
 
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