According to an oped by Pat Buchanan, starting around 2009 the U.S. Naval Academy lowered its enrollment standards for incoming freshmen so the Navy could increase its racial diversity.

The USNA is on a campaign to increase minority naval officers to approximate the nonwhite enlisted percentage of the Fleet, which is 40 percent minority personnel. Unfortunately, the USNA turns away applicants with SAT scores above 600 and As and Bs in their high school courses in favor of students with SAT scores in the 500s and C grades. Minority students with SATs in the 300s and 400s and C and D grades are admitted after attending a one year preparatory school.

These future officers will be in charge of operating complex naval weapons systems and making critical decisions impacting the security of our country. Don’t we want the most intelligent and able naval officers filling these highly responsible positions in the Fleet?

As a former Navy enlisted man and naval officer, I am concerned about our Navy’s ability to conduct operations which project U.S. sea power in the world. Our Navy must right itself.