(SaveAmericaNews.org) – On Wednesday, the U.S. Navy acknowledged using a “drag queen influencer” as one of its “digital ambassadors” to seek out “a wide range of potential candidates.”
The Navy’s attempts to increase interest among young people come amidst a historic recruitment crisis. A survey from the Ronald Reagan Institute found that only 13% of 18-29-year-olds are “highly willing” to join the military. Twenty-five percent are “somewhat willing,” and 26% are “not willing at all.”
The influencer is Joshua Kelley, a Yeoman 2nd Class in the United States Navy who is 24 years old and goes by the stage name “Harpy Daniels.”
Kelley has openly performed as a drag queen for some time and was a part of the Navy’s pilot ambassador program from October 2022 to March 2023.
This week, though, he attracted further notice after a video of him went viral on social media.
The Navy brought a drag queen 'Harpy Daniels' who is an active duty sailor to participate in a pilot program aimed at targeting a wider array of potential recruits through digital platforms.
China and Russia are laughing their asses off right now. pic.twitter.com/o00x5SYiVc
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) May 2, 2023
In a video posted on his Instagram profile in November 2022, Kelley said that the Navy had requested him to serve as their “first” “Navy Digital Ambassador.”
He stated, “From joining to 2016 and sharing my drag experience with my fellow sailors in my free time has been a blessing. “This experience has given me so much strength, courage, and ambition to keep advocating for and repping queer sailors.”
“Thank you to the Navy for providing me with this opportunity,” he continued. I’m just sharing my own Navy experience; I don’t speak for the Navy. “Hooyah, and let’s go Slay!”
During a lip sync show on a deployment in 2018, Kelley said he first performed drag for his fellow sailors. The video was shared on “international platforms.”
I don’t know about you, but I feel safer already.
“US Navy Used Drag Queen Influencer To Attract A ’Wide Range’ Of New Troops As Recruitment Plummets” pic.twitter.com/lZO5o56r7d
— Bob Frantz (@FrantzRantz) May 2, 2023
Graham Allen, a Republican podcaster, criticized Kelley on Tuesday, and Kelley replied, “Here you go for my rebuddle [sic].”
“Trans people have been oppressed in the military since 2021, but queer people have been until 2011.” Only when it’s advantageous to you and doesn’t involve LGBTQ people do you want to support the military. However, the military is the most adaptable and diverse organization in use.”
A statement from a Navy spokeswoman reads:
“The Navy Digital Ambassador Program was a pilot initiative designed to explore the digital environment to reach a wide range of potential candidates as the Navy navigates the most challenging recruiting environment it has faced since the start of the all-volunteer force.”
The pilot has ended, and the initiative is currently being evaluated to determine how it will operate in the future,” she noted.
I don’t know about you, but I feel safer already.
“US Navy Used Drag Queen Influencer To Attract A ’Wide Range’ Of New Troops As Recruitment Plummets” pic.twitter.com/lZO5o56r7d
— Bob Frantz (@FrantzRantz) May 2, 2023
A Navy spokeswoman confirmed to Fox News Digital that neither YN2 Kelley nor any other Navy Digital Ambassadors were compensated for their participation.
Only time will tell if this “woke” strategy will attract more men and women to join the U.S. Navy.
Copyright 2023, SaveAmericaNews.org