An Airing of Grievances Against Diversity Training

Have you ever conducted a diversity training class? Or something like a diversity training class? I have, and it’s an illuminating experience.

As a brigade judge advocate in a reserve training brigade near the end of my legal career, it was my task to lead much of the training both during the repeal of “don’t ask, don’t tell” and during various sexual harassment/sexual assault “stand downs” (when we stopped normal training activities to address sexual misconduct in the ranks). 

Because this was the Army, I had a script. We had to use specific PowerPoint decks and play specific videos. Some of the information was helpful, including detailing specific changes in command guidance and specific disciplinary processes. But when we got to the “values” sections, the same thing happened, every time. A small slice perked up and leaned in. The rest of the folks—the vast majority—tuned out and leaned back.

The same question was written all over their faces. “Please, can you just make it stop?”

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