While the Confederate battle flag's origin is a "military symbol of a slave-holding ... particularly in the officer ranks. However, there have been race-related setbacks as well.

“Having a diverse officer rank... you have a difference in perspectives in terms of military decision making ... two decades to develop a general or flag officer, it's focused on not just ...

Hegseth has long been vocal about how the senior-most ranks of the military are too big ... the Navy’s top admiral and other senior flag officers from their positions.