Diversity: Why is it Important

The United States military service is a highly diverse profession. Each branch of the military is made up of people from every walk of life imaginable, creating a mixture of different nationalities, economic situations, and religious backgrounds. These groups come together in order to accomplish a singular mission. However, the military is not the only application of this. Diversity is important because it provides multiple viewpoints that assist with mission success and decision making, and foster a more comfortable and tolerant workplace environment.

Diversity, both within the military and the civilian sector, increases the chances of mission success. When a problem arises, people that are members of the same group tend to look at the situation in a similar fashion. They have trouble seeing other sides of the issue and the end solution is normally flawed. The outcome improves if the group is a mix of people from different upbringings, cultures, and perspectives. The varying inputs on the problem at hand likely will produce a better solution than what the non-diverse group came up with.

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People have noted that “these missions today and into the future require our force to include the broadest possible spectrum of ideas, perspectives, and experiences”1. This is especially true when it comes to the vast amounts of overseas destinations that our civilians can work at and that our troops can deploy to.

Considering the high levels of international involvement in today’s world, diversity is especially important. Taking the mindset of a country into account and thoroughly understanding it causes effective completion of the goals and missions between countries.

For example, soldiers on a mission in a primarily Islamic country may have to stop and search a female native at a checkpoint. Diversity amongst the troops makes it likely that at least one person has had experience with that situation, whether they have been a member of that faith or just know the customs and courtesies of that population. This experience allows the search to proceed with the proper precautions to not offend or cause hostility and non-compliance. In that case, the decision that a female soldier would search is likely, considering the different social laws regarding the sexes. Dealing with these situations tactfully requires the multitude of viewpoints that diversity provides. This is why “we need teams of people who think differently from one another and yet are joined together in common cause”1.

When people from different walks of life with varying opinions come together to work on a project, there is always going to be a butting of heads. During that initial shock period, the members of the group adjust to the influx of different thoughts and ideas before eventually settling into the situation. Although it takes time, diversity is beneficial in strengthening the societal bonds and mindsets of those involved. During the period following the diversification of the organization, the clashing of ideas can make things frustrating; with diversity comes the challenge of old ideas that worked in the past when there was no diversity. News ideas that present solutions to the problem differently and more efficiently will receive push-back. Accepting them will take some time, but this rough adjustment period is worth it. Without the introduction of these new ideas, “we will never understand the other perspectives… And therefore lock ourselves into a... The closed-minded ideology that has only led to hate, prejudice, and tragedy throughout history”2.

Diversity helps groom tolerance and acceptance within the service and community, and that’s not all. Being diverse can also help boost numbers and foster camaraderie between soldiers. Considering that the majority of people portrayed and represented in the military are white males, “white males stare military service in the face as a primary option... For many women and some minorities, joining the military... Is not as obvious an option”3. People like to see themselves represented. When diversity is shown, members of varying social groups are more likely to participate in the portrayed activities. It has also been observed that if the organization you belong to is more accepting, those that work within it will be more engaged, which will foster a more happy and productive environment4. Judgment from others affects the decisions that people make; more diverse environments make potential members feel that judgmentjudgmentjudgment, is less likely. This lack of judgement helps make them feel more comfortable. People with confidence in their environment tend to produce better work than those that feel stifled by the threat of judgement.

Without diversity, creativity would be stagnant. Innovations would be severely delayed. The handling of some situations would lack understanding and tact, causing conflict that could’ve been easily mitigated. Diversity is important because despite the tendency for rough beginnings, people feel that they can express themselves. Diverse viewpoints add to mission effectiveness and allow people of all walks of life a sense of belonging.