Indy Standard

Dating back to 1802, when the United States Military Academy was founded in West Point, N.Y., Congress has chartered U.S. service academies to graduate officers capable of serving in leadership roles to protect and defend the nation.

Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), a Naval Academy graduate, highlights the competitive nature of admissions to these academies. With only 4,400 total spots available at each academy and no more than 1,350 students admitted annually, nominees are put forward by members of Congress and other high-ranking officials.

Young points out that service academy graduates have historically been distinguished citizens, including presidents and Medal of Honor recipients. However, he argues that recent directives promoting diversity have shifted focus away from merit-based admissions.

According to Young, "Today, too often our service academies are using those metrics as a way to maximize the diversity of those admitted, not their merit." He asserts this practice is discriminatory and conflicts with the Constitution while undermining military readiness amid rising threats.

As the Trump administration prepares to take office next year, Young calls for an end to race-based admissions in service academies. He emphasizes that "race and ethnicity are irrelevant to military success" and warns that racial preferences erode necessary cohesion for battlefield success.

The Supreme Court ruled last year that race-based preferences in college admissions are unconstitutional but did not address service academies directly. Despite this, West Point argued in an amicus brief that such practices create a diverse set of leaders vital for the military.

Young disagrees with this view: "Effective, respected, and country-first and mission-centered leaders are most critical to our military’s ability to fight and win wars — not the arbitrary and ideologically captured idea of 'diversity.'"

He advocates applying the Court's ruling standard across all post-secondary schools, including service academies. "Equal protection under the law should be applied consistently," he states.

Ending racial preferences at America's service academies will strengthen armed forces and restore trust in institutions preparing Americans for service. Young concludes that America’s fighting force should remain silent on considerations of race like the Constitution it defends.

U.S. Senator Todd Young (R., Ind.) is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.