Letter to the editor: Reverse discrimination is wrong, too

OPINION:

“Naval Academy: Military benefits from keeping race an admissions factor” (page A10, Sept. 26) notes that attorneys for the U.S. Naval Academy have said the school should continue considering race and ethnicity in admissions because the student body is not diverse enough. They say diversity makes the Navy more effective and widely respected. I disagree.

It seems the military does not understand that admitting unqualified students to the Naval Academy does a disservice to everyone — and it makes people wonder whether minority students and graduates are up to snuff.

This reverse discrimination has been going on for decades in all military branches. For example, in the 1990s, officer promotion boards were ordered to promote a certain percentage of Black service members. This was challenged in federal court by a group of White officers in the Air Force who had been passed over for promotion.

I had a Black Judge Advocate General’s Corps officer tell me in 1984 that he had made commander only because of his race.

CMDR. WAYNE L. JOHNSON

Judge Advocate General’s Corps, U.S. Navy (retired)

Alexandria, Virginia