OPINION:
According to an op-ed by Pat Buchanan, starting around 2009 the U.S. Naval Academy lowered its enrollment standards for incoming freshmen so that the Navy could increase its racial diversity.
The academy is on a campaign to increase minority naval officers to approximate the percentage of the non-white enlisted fleet, which is 40 percent minority personnel. Unfortunately, the school turns away applicants with SAT scores above 600 and As and Bs in their high school courses in favor of students with SAT scores in the 500s and C grades. Minority students with SATs in the 300s and 400s and C and D grades are admitted after attending a one-year preparatory school.
These future officers will be in charge of operating complex naval weapons systems and making critical decisions affecting the security of our country. Don’t we want the most intelligent and able naval officers filling these highly responsible positions?
As a former U.S. Navy enlisted man and naval officer, I am concerned about our navy’s ability to conduct operations, which project U.S. sea power in the world. Our navy must right itself.
DONALD MOSKWITZ
Londonderry, N.H.
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