Stacker your Admiral retired in 2012, there are no current black VSOs as far as I'm aware? The point the PM is making is not that we shouldn't promote on merit it's rather that ethnic minorities are deterred from joining because we are institutionally racist. I'm not convinced that as individuals there are many serving racists but as an organisation?
I would also add that the timing of this smacks of distraction politics. Make some controversial statement targeting some high profile British instutions just as he's in difficult negotiations with the EU! Got to love politicians!