The Pentagon’s Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity is working “closely” with each of the services to develop a Defense Department-wide strategic plan for diversity as directed by the White House, announced Clifford Stanley, undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness. The decision falls on the heels of President Obama’s Aug. 18 executive order calling for a government-wide initiative to promote diversity in the federal workplace. “Diversity is the tapestry and the strength of our great nation and we are ready to take steps to accomplish the President’s challenge,” said Stanley. Navy Capt. Ken Barrett, acting deputy director of DOD’s diversity office, said diversity goes beyond just race and ethnicity. He suggested it also could apply to things such as language skills, regional expertise, and cultural expertise. “Diversity is our strength. It’s a strategic imperative for us, and it’s a readiness issue,” Barrett said. (AFPS report by Lisa Daniel)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.