How veterans can help growth companies improve Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I)

July 7, 2022

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I will be the first to admit that my editions of the VET thus far have focused primarily on stories and events involving the Army and Navy.  So, in this month’s edition, I want to rectify that by sharing the story of a legendary pilot who served in the United States Army Air Forces and eventually the Air Force when it was established in 1947.

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Brigadier General Charles E. McGee was interred at Arlington Cemetery on June 16^th.  One of the original Tuskegee Airmen, BG McGee was 102 years old when he passed away in January of this year.  His exemplary military career spanned 30 years, during which he flew 409 combat missions in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. BG McGee earned not one, but TWO Distinguished Flying Crosses (the equivalent of a Silver Star for pilots), a Bronze Star and the Congressional Gold Medal.

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For those unfamiliar with the Tuskegee Airmen, they were the first African American military aviators in U.S. history, and their accomplishments helped lay the foundation for President Truman’s decision to integrate the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. Taking their name from the town in Alabama where they trained, the unit was first activated in March of 1941. It took over two years for the first Tuskegee unit (the 99^th Pursuit Squadron) to fly a combat mission.  But fly they did.  By the end of WWII, 992 pilots were trained, 355 deployed overseas, and 84 lost their lives. BG McGee and the Tuskegee Airmen epitomize selfless service; fighting for a nation that, at the time, failed to recognize that the color of your skin doesn’t matter when you’re in a fight with the enemy.

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I came across BG McGee’s story as I was researching the origins of Juneteenth, which was celebrated on June 19^th this year.  Looking at the calendar, I wondered whether BG McGee’s family decided to delay his interment at Arlington to coincide with the holiday?  Regardless, I thought it fitting that someone as groundbreaking as McGee was laid to rest at the same time the U.S. commemorated the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.

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What can leaders of growth companies learn from BG McGee’s story?

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• Diversity:  the United States military is one of the most diverse services in the world. While this is somewhat attributable to our diverse population, consider this:  African American service members comprise ~17% of the military versus ~13% of the overall population and the percentage of Hispanic or Latino service members has increased by over 40% in the last 15 years.  At a time where companies are striving for diversity in their workforce, veteran candidates present an opportunity to enhance the diversity of your pipeline
   
• Equity:  while having a diverse pipeline of candidates is critical to creating a more diverse employee base (the “D” in DE&I), how do organizations ensure these individuals have the same access to opportunities (the “E” in DE&I)?  Consider these statistics: in 1975 only 5% of commissioned military officers were female; by 2020 this had grown to 18%, representing a nearly 4x increase.  Ranger School, one of the toughest schools in the U.S. Army, and historically all-male, recently allowed female service members to attend.  The result?  Unsurprisingly women have done well; earlier this year, the school produced its 100^th female graduate.  I use these examples to illustrate that the military, with all its faults, excels at providing opportunity for ALL service members.  Veterans understand the importance of providing equal opportunities for everyone and can help your company improve in this area
   
• Inclusion:  how can veterans help growth companies ensure employees feel included (the “I” in DE&I)?  Veterans, more so than any other population, are meritocratic:  they don’t care whether you’re male or female, or about the color of your skin.  They care only about building and leading teams of people that will have each other’s back in a fight.  Because the military is diverse, its veterans know how to lead and be a part of diverse teams that are aligned towards achieving a common goal

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Charlie Mike*
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Dave & the Summit Partners Veterans Community