Defense Secretary Mark Esper released a memo on Friday that would ban the flying of the Confederate battle flag on U.S. military installations.
The move comes ahead of a planned town hall discussion with service members across the globe and following guidance released earlier in the week to promote diversity and inclusion in the military.
“The flags we fly must accord with the military imperatives of good order and discipline, treating all our people with dignity and respect in rejecting divisive symbols,” Esper wrote in the Thursday memo.
“Supporting our people requires mutual respect, responsibility, and accountability,” he continued. “With this change in policy, we will further improve the morale, cohesion, and readiness of the force in defense of our great nation.”
The moves come as the Department of Defense swiftly acts to sure up cohesion in the wake of George Floyd’s death and nationwide protests against Confederate symbols.
Esper listed authorized flags in addition to the American flag, including those of states, military service flags, the POW/MIA flag, and the flags of allied nations. The Confederate battle flag was not on the authorized list.
On Wednesday, Esper shared an anti-bias memo calling for the removal of photographs from consideration by promotion boards, updating the military’s equal opportunity and diversity inclusion policies, and adding bias awareness and racial prejudice to continuing education.
