Beige, brown, and olive drab
An interesting discussion has shaped up over at Occam's Carbuncle on the issue of racial diversity in the CF - see the comments thread for the meat of it.
This particualar quote from Gen Hillier a couple of weeks back seems to have sparked the debate:
Are race, religion, and culture valid recruiting considerations for the Canadian Forces?
This particualar quote from Gen Hillier a couple of weeks back seems to have sparked the debate:
"Those men and women [the CF] do not, however, reflect the demographics of our country to nearly the degree that we want," said Hillier.
"And in short, let me just tell you quite frankly, they don't reflect your community in the numbers that we need, or that we want, or that are healthy for our country."
Are race, religion, and culture valid recruiting considerations for the Canadian Forces?
posted by Babbling Brooks at 9:55 a.m.
4 Comments:
The CF isn't in a position to reject qualified applicants because they are the wrong race or religion, so it isn't really as big an issue as people might pretend.
But are these valid considerations? Yes. It's what you do with them that may be invalid.
Preferentially hiring candidates of any particular group rubs me the wrong way, unless a compelling reason can be demonstrated, which is not the case here. But focusing on recruiting more people from particular groups -- i.e. on selling CF careers to people who might not otherwise consider them -- does not.
I think it's a good long-term strategy so long as it does not degenerate into a simple numbers/quota game.
The focus has to be on mission capability and not simply "looks like Canada".
Short term of course there are terrific tactical reasons for wanting Muslims in the force, and I think it can only help the CF -- as long as the focus is again on mission capability.
"selling CF careers to people who might not otherwise consider them..."
Why wouldn't they? As long as there's no institutional bias against any particular group, why would persons of any particular ethnic persuasion tend not to opt to join the military?
Perhaps they hould be recruiting among "progressives" and pacifists - you know, people who wouldn't otherwise consider a career in the CF.
OC
Odie, a number of the folks who comment here are serving members, and most of us who post have military experience.
The question isn't whether different ethnicities are treated differently once in, or if the CF discourages them from joining, the question is whether the CF should use race, culture, ethnicity, etc. as considerations in their recruiting strategies.
Remember, the CDS wasn't saying "We need more Canadians in the CF", he was saying he needed more Muslims specifically.
Post a Comment
<< Home