Political Sciences

This is a discussion thread for my course. The prompt is as follows:

Prompt

Reflect on everything you’ve learned up to this point. Choose a branch of the military that you feel to be the most inclusive and diverse branch. Then, form an argument for how and why it is the most diverse and inclusive branch of the military. Be sure to touch upon the branches inclusion of African Americans, Women and Gay Men and Women. Each student will form his/her own opening argument, rebuttal, and closing statement. Your instructor may contribute to the debate to facilitate conversation and encourage deeper analysis.

Opening arguments should be submitted on Wednesday. Each person will develop one distinct and powerful argument to support his/her position. Arguments should be supported by the readings and demonstrate specificity through examples. These should be the strongest arguments that you can come up with for your position.

Rebuttals should be submitted on Friday. Each person will select one argument from one of the other opposing team to argue against. The rebuttal may offer additional information to disprove the initial argument, pose questions that were neglected or overlooked, or cite contradictory examples from the readings or society.
——–The Rebuttal will be in response to this opening statement from another student:
Opening Statement:

The U.S. Army is the most inclusive branch, with leaders who chose to see diversity as a positive matter. The Army is a values-based organization where everyone is expected to treat all persons as they should be treated – with dignity and respect, as outlined in AR 600-20, the Army’s Command Policy. The Army has become more accommodating and more reflective of the society it serves.

The Army admittedly has discriminated against a variety of citizens who desired to serve. The most obvious of these groups, being those with characteristics incompatible with military services, such as being physically unfit, having a disease or defect unsuited for duty, or being mentally insufficient, either due to intellect or behavioral health.

The Army, like the other branches, has severely limited or prohibited service by some social and ethnic groups, either by Congress or societal norms. African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, women, gays, and lesbians have at various times been banned from service, allowed in only in small numbers, or approved in only under particular conditions.

“Every qualified American who wants to serve our country should have an opportunity if they fit the qualifications and can do it.” The Army has embraced this 2014 statement by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel (Obama Administration). Even before this wonderfully inclusive statement, the Army was marching forward with equitable change.

1950-1953, more than 50,000 women, mostly as Army nurses near the front line of the Korean War.
1954, the last racially segregated unit, 94thEngineer Battalion was disbanded.
1962-1972, a majority of the 11,000 women who served in Viet Nam were Army nurses.
1986, General Colin Powell was the first black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
2003, the first “lioness” teams, later called female engagement teams (FET) deployed and engaged in Iraq,
2009, FET deployed to Afghanistan.
2015, the Military Equal Opportunity policy was modified to include gay and lesbian service members.
2016, the Senate confirmed Eric Fanning as secretary of the Army, making him the first openly gay secretary of a U.S. military branch.
2020, the first female donned a “Green Beret” receiving the coveted “special operations” tab.
Today’s Army is challenging assumptions, breaking down barriers, smashing through stereotypes, leading the military in innovation, and achieving the impossible. ARMY STRONG!

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Closing Statements should be submitted on Sunday. Each person will summarize the key points of his/her argument.

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO PUT THIS IN PAPER FORMAT. A word doc that clearly identifies the opening statement, rebuttal and my closing statement is fine!!!!!!!