Dear Editor: During my time in service aboard a destroyer in the South China Sea, I witnessed firsthand the diverse talents of sailors from various backgrounds. They came from all walks of life, engaging in everything from managing gas turbines to firing machine guns and communicating orders from the bridge. Was everyone perfect at their tasks? Obviously not. But the unique skills and experiences of each person contributed to making both the ship and the Navy even stronger.
Right now, the military is facing a serious recruitment and retention crisis. By sending the message that half the population—and a large part of those who remain—are not appreciated for their identity, we only downgrade the effectiveness of our military and jeopardize the safety of our country (“Trump and Hegseth declare an end to ‘politically correct’ leadership in the U.S. military,” Sept. 30).
Michael Smallberg, San Diego
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
