Description
This paper is about the tensions and trade-offs of diversity promotion and meritocracy in the Royal Air Force. The paper draws on evidence collected from recent media attention and exiting literature, combined with the authors reflexive stance from her own service in the Royal Air Force to reflect on the impact of diversity policies on the service culture and personnel. The Royal Air Force has long prided itself on its meritocratic system and historically distinguished itself against the other UK services by promoting its non-traditional accessibility to individuals from all groups. However, recent public events, including the non-statutory inquiry into gender harassment and bullying in the RAF Aerobatic Display Team ‘The Red Arrows’, and the inquiry into positive discrimination recruitment practices which exposed a ‘toxic culture to chasing diversity statistics’, have offered insights to a problematic organisational culture when it comes to diversity and inclusion practices. This paper uses these insights to discuss the impact these paradoxical incidents have had on the organisational culture and on the people who serve within the organisation.
