US Navy Partners with Drag Queen Harpy Daniels Amid ‘Most Challenging' Military Hiring Crisis

The US Navy has partnered up with drag queen influencer Harpy Daniels, who serves as a "Digital Ambassador," to attract recruits amid an ongoing military hiring crisis.

The US Navy spokesperson says they are struggling to invite recruits. So to reach out to more potential candidates, they have turned to a Digital Ambassador campaign to promote their recruitment.

​​US Navy Partners with Drag Queen Harpy Daniels

As per Newsweek, drag queen influencer Harpy Daniels, known in real life as Yeoman 2nd Class Joshua Kelley, shared that she is a "digital ambassador" for the US Navy.

Daniels, who has over 8,000 followers on Instagram, announced his ambassadorship last November 2020. The drag queen influencer revealed that the Navy reached out to them to be a "digital ambassador."

Fox News Digital reports that their Instagram bio of Kelley clarifies that the views and opinions in her account "are not endorsed by the [Department of Defense] DoD or the [Department of Navy] DoN." She also dubs herself a non-binary sailor, apart from being a drag queen.

The Navy spokesperson told Fox News that the Digital Ambassador campaign, which includes Daniels, is already over. The initiative began back in October 2022. However, it already had its final curtain call last March 2023.

The US Navy explains that the project sought to reach more potential candidates using digital platforms. The spokesperson further notes that they did not pay Daniels and their other partners for the "Digital Ambassadors" campaign.

On top of that, the Navy spokesperson reiterates that the program has concluded. And for now, they are still evaluating if they would still pursue the "Digital Ambassador" initiative moving forward.

The drag queen influencer says that her experience with the Navy helped her instill three crucial values, including "courage," "ambition," and "strength." Daniels goes on to thank the US Navy for the opportunity that they have given her.

'Most Challenging' Military Hiring Crisis'

The Navy spokesperson alarmingly reveals that they are grappling with "the most challenging" recruitment crisis ever since they adopted the all-volunteer force system.

Fox News notes that a recent Ronald Reagan Institute survey echoes the revelation of the Navy. It shows that roughly 13 percent of Americans aged 18 to 29 said they are "highly willing" to join the military.

On the other hand, 26 percent fall under the "not willing at all" category, whereas 25 percent say they are "somewhat willing."

Meanwhile, Newsweek highlights that the digital ambassador program, including the drag queen influencer, received negative backlash from right-wing or conservative folks.

In a recent tweet, Republican congressman Jim Banks shared his two cents on the recently concluded Navy recruitment promotion. He believes that recruiting the DoD under the Joe Biden administration "is as good as" the marketing of Bud Light.