RAF recruiters were advised against selecting 'useless white male pilots' to hit diversity targets
White men seeking to join the Royal Air Force were described as
"useless white male pilots" in leaked emails that expose the pressure
placed on recruitment officers to improve diversity.
A number of selection boards to place new recruits on courses - a crucial part of maintaining the fighting strength of the RAF
- were also cancelled if they did not include women or ethnic
minorities, according to the messages, which have been seen by Sky News.
It can also be revealed the air force is paying £5,000 each to 31 white
men - a total of £155,000 - who it found had been unfairly disadvantaged
by a recruitment policy that - under the leadership of Air Chief
Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the head of the RAF - sought to boost female
and ethnic minority ratios in the air force, according to a defence
source.
The RAF confirmed that 31 individuals had received payments but did not confirm the amount.
The
revelations appear to contrast with repeated assurances by Air Chief
Marshal Wigston that well-intentioned efforts to improve diversity did
not discriminate against white men, two informed defence sources said.
The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), who is due to retire from his post
this week, has also repeatedly insisted that his service's operational
capabilities were never impacted.
The RAF insisted that there was no contradiction
