Safe for Diversity

Or as more specifically stated in the commission's report, the Secretary of Defense should: . . . track progress toward the goal of having a dynamic and sustainable 20-30 year pipeline that yields (1) an officer and enlisted corps that reflects the eligible U.S. population across all Service communities and ranks and (2) a military force that is able to prevail in its wars, prevent and deter conflict, defeat adversaries and succeed in a wide range of contingencies, and preserve and enhance the all-volunteer force.2 This is a classic case of misplaced priorities. 3 Putting demographic representation before the ability to prevail in war is a nonstarter, particularly in the case of the Marine Corps, which has always placed mission accomplishment as top priority. Cyber security is a real threat, as Iranian nuclear program researchers discovered with Stuxnet.4 Over 77 million Sony PlayStation Network customers can attest to this as well.5 The creation of Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command on 21 January 2010 and the Commandant's insistence on strengthening that force in light of scheduled force reductions are strong testaments to our Corps' ever- expandi n g diverse technological skill set.