Top U.S. Military Official: 'Diversity' Is a Priority amid Afghanistan Evacuation
Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston prioritizes 'inclusion'
© press
One of America's top military officials has declared that "inclusion" and "diversity" are a priority amid the deadly chaos as ally troops scramble to evacuate Afghanistan.
Shortly before a suicide bomb at Kabul airport killed around 200 people, including 13 U.S. service members, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Grinston announced that "diversity" is a top priority.
Grinston declared on Twitter that he will "demand" "inclusion" within the U.S. Army for Women’s Equality Day.
"Diversity is a number - do you have people that don’t look or think like you in the room?" Grinston wrote in his "woke" tweet.
"Inclusion is listening and valuing those people."
He included an image that showed female service members of different races.
© press
"[Women's Equality Day] reminds us we’re smarter and more lethal when we come together as an inclusive, cohesive team," Grinston added.
"Our values demand it."
Diversity is a number - do you have people that don’t look or think like you in the room? Inclusion is listening and valuing those people. #WomensEqualityDay reminds us we’re smarter and more lethal when we come together as an inclusive, cohesive team. Our values demand it. pic.twitter.com/b72l2EcIn0
— SMA Michael Grinston (@16thSMA) August 26, 2021
Grinston, according to his biography on the U.S. Army’s website, serves as the Army chief of staff's "personal adviser on matters affecting the enlisted force."
He devotes "the majority of his time traveling throughout the Army to observe training and interact with Soldiers and their Families."
The official Twitter account for the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command echoed Grinston's remarks, writing, "Inclusion & Diversity is what makes our [U.S. Army] better."
© press
Grinston's tweet was met with immense criticism from several social media users who questioned his priorities as the Afghanistan evacuation crisis continues.
"This is what matters: 11 Marines and one Navy Corpsman killed. Americans," Jessie Jane Duff, a U.S. Marine veteran, wrote in a tweet.
"I'm positive they didn't look or think like you, Sergeant Major.
"Every [flag-draped] coffin looks the same.
"We have an [Afghanistan crisis] and this is your tweet. Shameful."
This is what matters: 11 Marines and one Navy Corpsman killed. Americans.
— Jessie Jane Duff (@JessieJaneDuff) August 26, 2021
I'm positive they didn't look or think like you, Sergeant Major. Every flag drapped coffin looks the same.
We have an #AfghanistanCrisis and this is your tweet. Shameful. https://t.co/tVYbi8ROlM
According to U.S. officials, a suicide bomb attack outside the Abbey Gate at Kabul's airport killed 13 U.S. service members and wounded at least 18 others on Thursday.
ISIS-K claimed responsibility for the attack.
Officials confirmed late Thursday that those killed included 10 Marines, two Army soldiers, and a Navy corpsman, correcting earlier reports that additional Marines were killed.
Grinston was sworn in as the 16th Sergeant Major of the Army on August 9, 2019, and "has held every enlisted leadership position in artillery, ranging from cannon crewmember to command sergeant major," according to the Army's website.
