Army is worried too many white men lead combat units; racial diversity lacking

This is one of the problems with today's military.

There's not supposed to be any black or white. Everybody is supposed to be green.

Officers have some choice in the branch they'd like to lead. The demographics are more in line with the public for combat arms versus the support branches.

It won't be long until some idiot suggests all-black units.


This topic will be similar to the "not enough black teachers" BS.

quote:

---

It won't be long until some idiot suggests all-black units.

---

Then, as with most things of this nature, the pendulum will have swung too far in the other direction.

They should be more worried about lack of real leaders instead of pandering to the PC crowd.

quote:

---

12% of population is black. 10% of officers are black. What's the problem?

---

It's not fair to the logistics and finance people in the military. You see their jobs aren't commended like the infantryman who busts in doors, humps miles up and down ravines, and sleeps on whatever he can find. So as they move up the ranks making the same pay as these infantrymen they think they are equal. Obviously the US govt feels that way because they are paid the same. But when it comes to actually leading battalions, brigades and divisions, they choose those from combat arms. Because they actually know what it means to fight. Which is what the army is there to do. So by the demographics of fighting units not matching the demographics of the larger army, you have demographics in leadership positions that don't match the larger army.

quote:

---

It won't be long until some idiot suggests all-black units.

---

You mean "Operation Human Shield"?

quote:

---

I contend many are just content to be content with a E3 or E4 and work in logistics or something similar and stay away from infantry.

---

I can actually tell you what's going on - more or less. The narrative attempts to juxtapose the draftee army from the Vietnam era, which saw a greater than proportional share (for example, in 1965, blacks were 25% of the combat deaths) - with the modern military structure - which has a total military force of approximately 16% blacks, versus their ~12% population composition.

Why aren't they leading combat units at 16% or even 12%? Partially it is because the comissioned officer corps itself is "less" black than the total force - being more heavily white and male than the population, at large.

Second, it is the choices made. Purely making generalizations and anecdotally, blacks tend to pursue military service more for vocational and educational opportunities, than as a "calling" - I'm not questioning their patriotism (and I am certain this is true of poor and lower middle class whites who join, as well) - but noticing their pragmatism - many select military specialities that translate into civilian careers and/or provide educational support for a life post-military. It is not as easy or organic to rise to combat commands from these specialities - regardless of race.

Even among careerists, there is a "whitening" and "maleing" of the combat arms over time. I can assure you I have never witnessed any "good ole boys" network - quite the opposite. I have at various times served under black superiors - had black peers hold the same job and nominated black subordinates for positions of greater responsibility.

One of the very reasons minorities seek opportunities in the service is that military service is rightfully perceived as a meritocracy, as one of the very first parts of American society to be fully color-blind (officially) and integrated - in the late 1940s.

This new push smacks of additional divisiveness and a new way to push quotas. There will be a similar push in a few years to get more female combat commanders.

There should be only 1 color - green.

quote:

---

Army is worried too many white men lead combat units;

---

Odd. Is there some reason white men cannot do the job?