Air Force Academy Teaches Cadets ‘Inclusive Language’

The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is training its cadets to “use inclusive language” that bars them from calling people “terrorists” or using male and female identifiers, according to an official presentation being used by the elite military school and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

The presentation, titled, “Diversity & Inclusion: What It Is, Why We Care, & What We Can Do,” takes cadets through a series of exercises meant to eradicate their use of gender pronouns and reinforce the need for inclusive language that avoids “stereotypes, bias, and microaggressions.” One portion of the presentation tells cadets to avoid language such as “you guys,” “terrorists,” and “colorblind.”

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The Air Force Academy’s seminar mirrors many of the efforts taking place in the military and also at U.S. college campuses across the country. One portion of the course instructs cadets on the proper way to use “inclusive language” in everyday scenarios. The presentation materials say that “diversity and inclusion” are “critical to developing warfighters prepared to lead the” U.S. Air Force (USAF) and U.S. Space Force (USSF) “with character.”

An Academy spokesman told the Free Beacon this “conversation” with cadets was developed as part of its “Diversity & Inclusion Cadet Leadership Program.”

“As part of the Diversity & Inclusion Cadet Leadership Program, this conversation was developed by cadet leaders and USAFA staff to introduce all cadets to Department of the Air Force definitions of diversity and inclusion, as well as how these concepts enhance our warfighting effectiveness,” the spokesman said. “USAFA develops leaders of character that can lead diverse teams of Airmen and Guardians inclusively, to enhance innovation and win future conflict.”

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The presentation materials echo this sentiment.

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Certain words should be avoided at all costs, according to the presentation. “Not The ‘N’, ‘R’, or ‘F’ words, nor ‘Terrorist’ (for nationality; it happened),” one slide states.

Other words and phrases to avoid using include, “‘colorblind’ or ‘I don’t see color’ or ‘we’re all just people.’” {snip}

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