Quick Hit:

Rep. Matt Gaetz has denounced a guidebook from the Air Force which labels terms like “toughen up” and “stand for the flag” as microaggressions, arguing it undermines military readiness.

Key Details:

• Internal Memo: Gaetz revealed a 27-page guidebook from the 552nd Air Control Wing warning against phrases considered microaggressions, such as “spirit animal” and “toughen up.”
• Controversial Guidance: The document describes phrases like “opposite sex” and patriotic displays as potentially offensive, advocating for awareness of diverse gender identities and racial sensitivities.
• Response from Air Force: A spokesperson clarified that the guidebook is not official policy but was part of a submission for an innovation program and emphasized the Air Force's commitment to warfighting readiness.

Diving Deeper:

GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz is criticizing the United States Air Force over an internal memo that warns airmen against using certain phrases deemed as “microaggressions.” Gaetz has labeled the document a “radical” piece of guidance.

The 27-page guidebook, originating from the 552nd Air Control Wing in Oklahoma, advises airmen to avoid phrases such as “spirit animal,” which it describes as cultural appropriation and erasure of Indigenous culture. More controversially, the guidebook also classifies the phrase “toughen up” as a microaggression, arguing it contributes to potentially harmful standards of masculinity affecting mental and physical identities.

The document extends its guidance to phrases like “I don’t see color,” which it claims can be offensive and contribute to the erasure of people of color. Additionally, the term “opposite sex” is labeled as transphobic within the guidebook, as it implies a binary view of gender and conflates sex with gender identity.

Even common slang such as “that’s savage” is flagged as inappropriate, with the guidebook suggesting that such language erases the history of violence against Indigenous peoples. The memo also urges airmen to reconsider promoting materials or posters that encourage standing for the flag.

Gaetz shared his strong disapproval in a statement to Fox News Digital, highlighting a section that references a book by former Black Panther Angela Davis and critiquing the guidance under Vice President Kamala Harris’s influence. “I’m sorry, but I want a savage military to protect us from China,” Gaetz stated. He also called on the Air Force to clarify its stance on this guidebook.

In response, a Department of the Air Force spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the handbook is not an official policy document. It was created at the unit level in July 2021 as part of an innovation program and was not selected for official use. The spokesperson emphasized that the Air Force remains focused on warfighting readiness and respects the diverse beliefs of its airmen and guardians.

"Matt Gaetz" by Gage Skidmore licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED.