Congressional Report: Too Many White Men Lead the US Military
- Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:18am by
Meredith Jessup
- Print »
- Email »
WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. military is too white and too male at the top and needs to change recruiting and promotion policies and lift its ban on women in combat, an independent report for Congress said Monday.
Seventy-seven percent of senior officers in the active-duty military are white, while only 8 percent are black, 5 percent are Hispanic and 16 percent are women, the report by an independent panel said, quoting data from September 2008.
One barrier that keeps women from the highest ranks is their inability to serve in combat units. Promotion and job opportunities have favored those with battlefield leadership credentials.
The report ordered by Congress in 2009 calls for greater diversity in the military’s leadership so it will better reflect the racial, ethnic and gender mix in the armed forces and in American society.
Efforts over the years to develop a more equal opportunity military have increased the number of women and racial and ethnic minorities in the ranks of leadership. But, the report said, “despite undeniable successes … the armed forces have not yet succeeded in developing a continuing stream of leaders who are as diverse as the nation they serve.”
“This problem will only become more acute as the racial, ethnic and cultural makeup of the United States continues to change,” said the report from the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, whose more than two dozen members included current and former military personnel as well as businessmen and other civilians.
Having military brass that better mirrors the nation can inspire future recruits and help create trust among the general population, the commission said.
Among recommendations is that the military eliminate policies that exclude women from combat units, phasing in additional career fields and units that they can be assigned to as long as they are qualified. A 1994 combat exclusion policy bans women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level even though women have for years served in combat situations.
“If you look at today’s battlefield in Iraq and Afghanistan, it’s not like it was in the Cold War, when we had a defined battlefield,” retired Air Force Gen. Lester L. Lyles, the commission’s chairman, said in an interview. “Women serve — and they lead — military security, military police units, air defense units, intelligence units, all of which have to be right there with combat veterans in order to do the job appropriately.”
Because they are technically attached to, but not assigned to, combat units, they don’t get credit for being in combat arms, something important for promotion to the most senior ranks.
Lyles said the commission consulted a panel of enlisted women on the issue. “I didn’t hear, ‘Rah, rah, we want to be in combat,’” Lyles said. “But I also didn’t hear, `We don’t want to be in combat.’ What they want is an equal opportunity to serve where their skills allow them to serve.”
Stretching the definition of diversity, the report also said the military must harness people with a greater range of skills and backgrounds in, for instance, cyber systems, languages and cultural knowledge to be able to operate in an era of new threats and to collaborate with international partners and others.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 676 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 527 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 400 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 372 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 328 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 266 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 275 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 149 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 147 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 300 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 266 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (225)
MTSchmidt
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:20pmI don’t even think women should be in the military. It is pathetic how we send our women to do our fighting. It also wouldn’t be so white dominant if other ethnic groups in the military proved themselves to be good for the position. (that is not me being racist) I don’t care what color you are, prove yourself capable and you will get the promotion.
Report Post »beverlee
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:33pmThey make the point that WOMEN don’t have the opportunities…they say nothing about minorities not having them. Does that give you the key to this story?
Report Post »mill
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:34pmRIGHT!! But, we gotta give the inexperienced unqualified quacks a position at the table to make em feel better about themselves.
“I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.”
Report Post »What the hell happened to this pretty speech blacks are so proud of??????
Not color, character.
ctate970
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:16pmMaybe the Military can offer IPODS and Laptops as a signup bonus.
Report Post »chasbronson
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:12pmWhy don’t we just change the color of the uniforms?
Report Post »xpilotah1s
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:59amI really do not care where the crazys take this country anymore.
Take the worlds only great country and Military and turn it over to those who are incapable of greatness.
We have far to many examples of once successful businnesses which removed leadership to install a political correct or progressive agenda, results are usually a complete failure
Lets just turn this country into something equall to Mexico or even worse.
Then everyone get to share in your dreams and dispair as to how this could have happened. DO NOT LOOK AROUND FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME, JUST FIND A MIRRIOR.
This old worn out Vet of 20 years, does not care one dam bit!
My satisfaction will come in sharing the misery and despair along everyone else.
The old saying : Misery Loves Company is profound.
For all those spineless and having NO M COURAGE take heart you will have your greatest wish come true.
By the way Rome lasted longer than we ever will……………
JFI or for a few who understand FUBAR
Report Post »sbleve
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:54pmRome did not have electricity. Scuttle-butt (naval term during the non electric voice projection on sailing ships) information dissemination was a slow process for the less fortunate worker class of person. Digital today has the opportunity to reverse the current King/Queen march towards a tyrant.
But, the levee has boils, stand and fight or cut and run? I say to ‘ring the boils’ for temporary containment mitigation, rebuild the levee without the perpetual gopher tunnel undermining. This is a 60-80 year evolution – vs a machete scalpel one day cancer surgery.
Report Post »SEOhio
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:59pmYes FUBAR, but take heart in what you were taught by the military, stock up on your beans and bullets and prey to God that you won’t need any of them.
Report Post »threedoor
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:57amCould have fooled me. My unit was 45% black and all NCO positions were held by black masons. Sure most of the Officers are white but thats just because that happens to be the demographics of the Frats and Sorrorities they came out of.
Report Post »sean_m.
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:15pmExactly. But then the question comes back to minorities and the lack of education opportunities. It’s a never ending cycle of people wanting glory without putting forth the effort.
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:57amSeems the people that are in need, need to make it happen.
You think an average parent would feel secure knowing their child’s life might not be in the safest of hands? If you do not, which 99% would agree, how would you then justify making your child less safe and the country less secure by putting unqualified people in positions of leadership???
The latest proves my theory that America’s best days are way behind her.
Report Post »vandy24
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:55amYea, right – What we need is another Colin Powell (to lead the RINOs).
Report Post »Master-of-Disaster
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:19pmI was going to say I have two words for you….Colin Powell. Umm I believe he was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It never ends. As a retired USAF enlisted person I will tell you that the promotion system I was under was so dumbed down and watered down that if a rat died of natural causes near the runway everyone on base got credit for assuring the mission was never in jeopardy by assisting in the permanent eradication of enemy vermin interfering with air operations during multiple combat launches. Pahleeeeeze! Besides, that never changed the bottom line good ole boy network that got people promoted. It has nothing to do with merit or race or gender. Promotion in the military is a human endeavor and as such is fraught with unfairness and nepotism. Get use to it, grow a set and FIDO (you military folks know what that means). I wonder if anyone will remember what we did over there when all the dust settles?
Iraqi Freedom Vet ‘04
Report Post »Apple Bite
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:55amThe system in the military works fine enough, based on the merits of the individual, not their gender or race. I don’t need to ask which wing asked for this report. For once, they need to put that stinking race card down and think.
Now that I think about it, this goes hand in hand with Jesse Jackson jr’s stupid comments, that little ghetto children DESERVE an Ipod and Ipad. These things aren’t necessities. They are desires of the envious. If you want to succeed in life, go earn your keep.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:52amDid the “study” try to determine what should be done to make the military more effective in combat, or was that even a minor consideration in the study? To say that their recommendations needs to be followed in order for the United States population to trust the military more is asinine at best. One of the least trusted part of the government, the Congress, wants changes made to one of the most trusted part of the government, the military, so that the public will trust them even further. That is like Charley Sheen opening a sobriety clinic.
Report Post »ksagpilot
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:52amThis political correctness bullcrap is going to do to our Military what it has done to our Cities Police and Fire Fighters. The best and brightest will be left out of promotions they deserve in order to promote minorities. They will probably dumb down the tests too, just like in Civil Service.
Report Post »sbleve
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:42pmThe purpose and original push for a military pistol that had a frame size that accommodate short less muscular fingers – 9mm. Civilian law also adopted this but the Fed law (have since those early days of 9mm rediscovered a better round – .40 SW that has a frame size half way between the 9mm and the .45acp) discovered the flaw in using ballistic math characteristics vs combat knock-down of a slower Heavier bullet. A mans hand, even if small for averages, is strong enough to handle-effective use of the venerable .45acp. Small-hand military goals in recruitment drove the military thinking in the 70′s,
Report Post »SUEB
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:15pmYOu have to be a graduate to be in the service, don’t you? Ummm there’s your answer.
Report Post »yourtea
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:51amI think that there are too many whites being killed in our services,It should be equal .
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 7:25pm@ YOURTEA… INDEED!!!! Let’s get on that. Not advocating violence, just want everything to be equal…. I may throw up!
Report Post »AynRandLives
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:47amWould they also say:
- Too many black men in the NBA
Report Post »- Too many white men in NASCAR
- Too many hispanic men in the Hispanic Caucus
Untameable-kate
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:01pmToo many women in the Miss America pagent.
Report Post »AynRandLives
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:54pm- Too many girls in the Girl Scouts
Report Post »Master-of-Disaster
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:11pmOK that freakin funny!
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:48pm@AynRandLives
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:47am
Would they also say:
- Too many black men in the NBA
- Too many white men in NASCAR
- Too many hispanic men in the Hispanic Caucus
********************8
Report Post »Right, and let’s add too many blacks in the Congressional Black Caucus, I think they should let Michelle Bachmann and John Boehner join.
missy8s
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:46amThis is NOT about race or gender, it IS about taking the loyalty of the military to the republic and replacing it with loyalty to Chairman O. He is preparing for a dictatorship and he knows damn well that the military and an armed citizenry is all that stands in his way. If he overruns the military leadership with beholden puppets there would be nothing stopping him from seizing firearms from law abiding citizens and assuming total power.
Report Post »Emma Nelson
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:44amDitto on Alan West I think he should give Obama the boot in the next election I will vote for him!
Report Post »Emma Nelson
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:44amDo those comments not sound just a bit reverse racism too many whites huuummmm
Report Post »Emma Nelson
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:43amWell as soon as they change our military that will be the end of our defense system. Probably what they are looking to do.
Report Post »Nigel2
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:42amThis is great. They are in no way disputing the best people are being promoted. But they want more diversity at the top. So in their eyes it is OK to put diversity over qualification?
These are the same idiot bleeding heart liberals who really don’t like the military to begin with, but they are happy to try and help shape it. Unbelievable.
Report Post »missy8s
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:41amUm, if you wanted to have a successful “coup d’etat” the very first thing you would need to do to pull off such a thing is replace military leadership with sycophants beholden to the person planning it…
Report Post »Cincinnatus Dogood
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:49amYOU mean lesbians, gays, blacks and hispanics. Promoted into positions they are not trained for, simple to do the bidding of the tyrannt in chief. YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. This is a step in the take over.
Report Post »SEOhio
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:37pmDoes ANY ONE remember thier history? The Communist revolution in Russia, The French Revolution … They killed or exciled anyone who had any clue on how to run things. God help us! The military should be ran like everything else … ON MERIT!!!
Report Post »missy8s
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 1:11pmRe: Cincinnatus Dogood
I see it coming with every step the “Narrow Pharaoh” takes…
Forced retirements of upper echelon military brass, the soon to be minimized size of the military, cancellation of weapons systems, downsizing of our naval fleet and an increase in land based hardware.
Every part of this is preparation for a coup, no doubt about it.
Report Post »missy8s
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 1:14pmRe: SEOhio
They know damn well if they take over military CnC they win because “their” brass would carry out civilian weapons confiscation and a national “conservative” relocation program.
Prepare because it IS coming.
Report Post »GPS-Tech
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 12:22am@Cincinnatus Dogood
Report Post »I have a son-in-law who is a marine fighting in Afghanistan right now and my father fought in Vietnam and sacrificed his mind and body there. Neither have any loyalty to Obama and both are hispanic like me. I would have to say that we are more loyal to the Texas flag now seeing as what the libs are doing to the rest of the country.
BrerRabbit
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:41amDumbing it down…..again! We are soooooo doomed!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:36amCome to think of it, how have we stood ourselves for all these years? Gee, all our character faults and wrongs are overwhelming us. N-O-T!!!!
It’s time for the gays, lesbians, transsexuals, and otherwise corroded batteries sitting on the repair shop shelves of life to put up or shut up. In other words, get off your complaining, lazy butts and get out there and W-O-R-K to make our country better. Showing up for sleepovers and sit ins doesn’t count as W-O-R-K, by the way. Neither does destroying public property, OUR property count.
Instead of being useless, try being useful.
Report Post »powhatan
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:28amPathetic article….All I want is unqualified leaders no matter what color because of their color…
Report Post »Citizen
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:48amlol well said
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 1:00pmI am just sooo pleased that this is what congress is doing with their time and our money. Thank God they aren’t wasting our time / money. Sheesh.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:28amWell, and with few exceptions like Col. Alan West, we probably can be most grateful for this fact (if it IS a fact) considering the “fine examples” of black men running our country these days. I shudder to think what our military would be like if we had men of whatever color like vannette jones and barracks obamamama leading the way. Oh, don’t forget al and charlie, too…and the jj, jr. idiot……………….. Goodness your data and the facts stand alone!
Could there BE a reason there are more white men LEADING our nation historically speaking, that is. Maybe because they were too busy leading to pay attention to the color on somone’s skin. Hellllllllleo
Report Post »Rapunzel
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:27amNow I am confused. Is the purpose of our military to reflect the diversity of our population, or to DEFEND OUR COUNTRY???
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:47amRight, race or sex should not enter the discussion, only whoever is best for the job. Women have no place on the battlefield anyways. Weren’t we just discussing the problem of gays being a distraction in the military and now we want our men in combat with women? Do the women get time off for their time of the month? Do the guys have to turn their backs so the ladies can urinate in private? It is just stupid to suggest women should be in combat.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:54amthank you I was going to make the same statement. Who do you think does a better job a battle tested commander who move up in Rank do to the merit of his actions,or a commander put place by affirmative action.
Report Post »At what point do they require all sports teams to recruit based on the population demographics not on athletic ability.
TexasProgressive
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:41pmKate, i have seen several studies and read about a new book (Dan Brown if you can believe that) that says women are BETTER soldiers than men. As wars become less physical, where men have an advantage, wouldn’t we want the skills that women bring? Dont we want more soldiers so the stop loss rate goes down and we don’t have deploy people 5 times over? The time of the month comment is absolutely absurd.
Also, doesn’t the fact that the leaders in our military are not diverse speak to something being wrong? If you believe all races are equal (if not, just stop reading now) then the leader being overly white says there is a problem. Maybe we are not attracting minorities to the military, maybe they are not vying for leadership positions, or maybe racism is an issue…any way you look at it, something is wrong.
Report Post »Master-of-Disaster
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:10pmYou are so silly, they are joining forced with NASA to make Muslims feel good about their contributions to humanity!Sheeeesh.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:37pm@TexasProgressive
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:41pm
Kate, i have seen several studies and read about a new book (Dan Brown if you can believe that) that says women are BETTER soldiers than men. As wars become less physical, where men have an advantage, wouldn’t we want the skills that women bring? Dont we want more soldiers so the stop loss rate goes down and we don’t have deploy people 5 times over? The time of the month comment is absolutely absurd.
********************************
Report Post »Did anyone tell our enemies that wars have become LESS physical? Perhaps we should ask the marines and special forces operating in the mountains of Afghanistan how physical this war is.
Maybe you should actually talk to more military who are considering getting out! It‘s exactly this kind of Hocus Pocus by you progs that’s causing them to second think their careers in the military. They want to live to see their kids grow up just like you, but if the best brass aren’t making their battle plans and terms of engagement, that’s a lot less likely.
warrior21
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:08amMilMom:
I have searched in vain for a non fiction book where Dan Brown said “women are BETTER soldiers than men”.
Report Post »So I have to assume it was in one of his works of fiction…he wrote no non fiction books. Brown claims his work is highly researched and correct, however, it is child’s play to find errors. So you have been Dan Browned. I would appreciate the name of the book this statement supposedly appeared in. For your information wars do not become less physical. Its odd, but wars are about killing people, and continuing to kill until your enemy gives up, or there is no one left to kill. This is where the men have the advantage. Unless a woman’s skills are in killing they bring nothing to the battlefield. Like it or not, people are killed in a war. A woman’s skills are needed behind the battle line where they provide the most help to the warrior. Those people who think you can win a war by talking while drinking a cup of tea with your enemy are out of touch with reality. This is the reason we are losing in Afghanistan. The rules of engagement have been written to help our enemy not our warriors. Lastly, being a 26 year veteran I know a bit about the military. During my last 4 years of service I seen the introduction of women into the Army. In order to integrate them the physical standards were lowered…or none would have been able to qualify. It is a known fact that women are not as strong as men, therefore they can not carry the amount of equipment as a man. In a combat situation each man has to carry a certain amount of equipment. If a woman is a combat warrior she is required to carry the same load as her battle buddy, if she can’t, he must take up the slack and this is where problem begins.
BetterDays
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:26amPolitical correctness can if allowed, totally castrate ( pun intended ) our military. This is one area where MERIT should rule the day, but chances our we’ll put a “ coward ” in charge because of affirmative political action and equal rights. The person on the lethal end of an enemies attack really wants the best person leading not the socialist corrected one.
Report Post »royalstar
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 2:37pmPolice, firemen, and many other high risk professions have been put at risk and gotten people killed from the same pc garbage. Dumbing them down and less professional and prepared. I would say know the military, but it has been under assault for many years and diversity for the sake of diversity will finish our military off. This report and mindset is the most dangerous propaganda to our national security I think I have ever seen. It is wrong on every level. The comunists have infiltrated every segment and strata of our country. I am not a conspiracy theorist, but I never thought my last statement would ever be uttered from my mouth either. Glenn is more and more stating the obvious. It is so in our face.
Report Post »Lucy Larue
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 4:04pmBetterdays,
You are correct. It’s MERIT!
This administration sees racism EVERYWHERE!
There is no racism in the Military. You’re known as soldier!
I am certain that when current old duffer Generals retire they’ll be replaced by a more diverse group.
This will not assuage the “DIVERSITY” police. They see racist dust bunnies in every nook and cranny of our nation.
They will not be happy until they have empowered a number of (Pick your Ethnicity)Generals, who are out of the closet Gays, raised by two Moms, whose homosexual friends were the sperm donors.
Please let me add… I do not give a flying feather if you fit the above description. I just want you to be a good soldier. And if you want to rise in the ranks ?…..,I want you to be a SUPERB soldier!
We are fighting TWO Wars! We have a third war on our southern border. We may be establishing a no-fly zone around Libya. Our entire Military is weary. We’re stretched real thin!
The diversity police in this administration are in a quandry about what to do about the excess of WHITE Officers?! UGH!!!!
This is a“WONDERLAND” post.Down is up. Up is down. We’re painting the roses red!
“We have met the ENEMY and he is us”. POGO
Report Post »Toastery
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:13pmAgreed! The military is a performance based unit, very much unlike congress and entities that track statistics. Put a congressman/woman or a statistician on the front line and watch them abondon questions about race for questions such as, “Are you qualified to …….”
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:25amGreat. Just what we need. More affirmative action leadership, getting our servicemen killed.
Report Post »kreese
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:43amYou’re right—didn‘t Martin Luther King say something about the color of one’s skin? This is just more Leftist BS. The Left has ruined the economy–ruined the educational system–now, they’ll concentrate on ruining the mlitary–what’s next?
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:45amThat statement alone, as stated in the title of this article, is ‘racist and sexist.’
Believe it or not, sometimes things are as they are just because they are as they are,,, without racism or sexism. Would you want someone leading you into battle who was not the best qualified, but was there to eliminate the ‘appearance of’ racism or sexism???
People need to get past this type of thinking, it’s destroying our country.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:47am“Seventy-seven percent of senior officers in the active-duty military are white, while only 8 percent are black, 5 percent are Hispanic”
Correct me if I’m far off base, but isn’t this about the actual makeup of the whole nation demographically?
These racists are getting on my nerves in a big way. How dare them prefer race over merit.
Report Post »OneFunR6
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:50am“…now, they’ll concentrate on ruining the mlitary–what’s next?”
A Fascist National Socialist Dictatorship.
Report Post »hersey10
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:52amIf your qualified to do the job why does race have to be a part of it ? I‘d like to hear Allen West’s take on this story .
Report Post »OneFunR6
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 11:53amGhostOfJefferson – “How dare them prefer race over merit.”
Yes, How dare they…….
Promotion and job opportunities have favored those with battlefield leadership credentials.
in the MILITARY? Really?
Report Post »chasbronson
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:04pmMa’am you beat me to it.My first thoughts exactly.Politically correct garbage.
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:04pmDon’t F with the military with this PC crap. You will only get people killed. In the military, the cream rises to the top. If they happen to be white, so be it.
Report Post »Don’t put incompetents in command, just because of their skin color.
theonefromabove
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:20pmYep just what we need to be focused on while the world is burning! /Sarcasm
http://politicalbowl.com – Political Videos
Report Post »Lantern
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:21pm“The report ordered by Congress in 2009 calls for greater diversity in the military’s leadership so it will better reflect the racial, ethnic and gender mix in the armed forces and in American society.”
Ok, so now we know where this came from, the Pelosi-led, poor excuse for a congress. You know, the ones that got ran out of town on a rail, hopefully never to be heard from again.
Report Post »stogieguy7
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:25pmSubstitute “blacks” for “whites” and “NBA” for “Navy” and you’d have a whole lotta trouble. Just remember that ‘affirmative’ action is just another phrase describing anti-white racism.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:30pmAm I the only one picking up on this reports lack of understanding, as to the Mission of the US Military?
Report Post »rsii0210
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:43pmThat is because you don’t need to wear panties to fight a war properly. The Military is an anathema to the liberal system….a “Meritocracy” no performance…no promotion. In my service I saw many minorities who were able to support their families because they could perform.
Report Post »The liberal agenda has always been to weaken America and strengthen their own power base, this is treason at the highest levels and needs to be treated accordingly.
Hoosier Daddy
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 12:50pmMore diversity please.
Report Post »Sincerely,
Major Hassan
Mad_as_Hell...
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 2:31pmSpeaking of diversity, we probably have very few community organizers as well.
Report Post »grilledcheez
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 2:55pmAccording to the 2010 Census,
Report Post »65% of the population are non-hispanic whites.
16% are hispanic/latino
13% are black
5% are asian.
So the currently military leadership in this country does not accurately reflect the nation’s demographics.
olliec
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:03pm@ Gramma B…you’ve got that right! Geez…can’t they leave race out of anything?
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:03pmWhat concerns this CiC? We are losing the war in the Af-Pak region and Pakistan has nukes. But that doesn’t faze Obama. He’s a black Marxist intent on putting an end to straight white male hegemony in America.
Never mind that our troops are being left to die and rot in a Muslim hellhole.
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:07pmThese statistics represent college educated officers, they are very different for Enlisted members. Only one percent of Americans actually knows about or cares about the Military, according to active duty US Army General who recently lost his infantry LT son in Combat.
Report Post »Curioso
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:15pm80% of U.S. is white 13% black 8% leadeship in military is not white seems like they are in pretty good shape to me.
P. C. is a death sentence for soldiers look at what happened in Fort Hood because of political correctness.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:15pmThis is about getting more of his androgynous females in leadership positions. They are a loyal bunch.
Report Post »Jim in Houston
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:15pmYeah, just like Obumbler. Makes one wonder about the racial/sexual makeup of the committee
Report Post »CatB
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:30pm@GRAMMA B
I agree ..stop trying to put people in catagories and let the best rise to the top .. no matter what their race or gender.
Report Post »The Big Pickle
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:31pmThe military has spent billions of dollars trying to recruit and train black people to become pilots because the NAACP yelled racism that less than 1 percent of our avators are black. After all the billions of money spent the washout rate for black trainees was 99 percent and black pilots are still less than 1 percent of jet pilots.
Can you people imagine if we start forcing affirmative action for our pilots?
If you aren‘t qualified to lead men or fly planes find something you’re actually qualified to do!
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:39pmSounds like affirmative racism to me.
Report Post »ForeignWatcher
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 3:48pmNearly noone here seems to read the articles anymore. You take 2 to 3 words from them and make some stuff up and then post random right wing stuff, it would be funny if it werent so sad.
Just try it, read the article. You would perhaps learn something…
But no, lets just rant incoherently about “affirmative action”, about soldiers dying because of “not-white” leadership and perhaps some lies about the demographic. Your fellow blazians will never know the differencr…
Report Post »sleazyhippo
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 4:13pmThe esteemed “author” once again provides a misleading headline to a quite tame article, hoping to generate a few pages of hysteria out of a very routine description of a yearly statistical report.This report is meant to describe military populations and assess our fighting force capability in face of the evolving threat.
This article was lifted from the liberal but fair Washington Post, and is not clear where the term, “too male, too white” comes from – these certainly are not the words of Joint Chiefs of Staff!
Once again the headline comes in like a Lion and the article goes out like a lamb!
Report Post »avenger
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:02pmI cannot tolerate this shet anymore….the nuts are running the asylum…lets make Jessi Jackson a colonel and Jessi Jackson senior a general.al sharpton would be a great admiral…..
Report Post »MOVETERAN
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:06pmI left cause the Pentagon turned yellow and was getting bogged down by bureaucrats in uniforms. Chicken in chiefs have a way of letting Generals and Admirals with no business being in charge make decisions that get us killed. Honestly I don’t think we have had anything that qualifies as great military leaders since WWII. We have had good officers that could have been good and great leaders in the Pentagon. Except they were ground to dust under the weight of the yes men and kiss a$$es and brown nosers that weaseled their way into positions of power.
It is truely sad that in a time like this that the race card has to be involved in protecting American lives. I didn’t care what race or sex you were, I just cared that you could do your job and do it right. As I remember it “Lead, follow or get out of the way!!!!!!!!!”.
Report Post »kryptonite
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:17pmThe Big Pickle: “After all the billions of money spent the washout rate for black trainees was 99 percent and black pilots are still less than 1 percent of jet pilots.”
——
Wrong move. They should’ve jumped on the AA bullet train (politics). Look at Obama. He’s CiC now, but before fast-tracking to that position he didn’t know NOT to park in bus stops. Heaven knows where he would have landed his plane if he had been a military jet pilot.
Like I said, this is about his loyal, gender-effaced skirts.
Report Post »watchtheotherhand
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 6:33pmI’m pretty sure if I am going into battle and putting my life on the line I could care less if the dude is purple !!!!! He just better be qualified !!!!!! This is where PC will eventually cost lives because race rather than merit and leadership will determine who gets placed in leadership positions.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:25pmStretching the definition of diversity, the report also said the military must harness people with a greater range of skills and backgrounds in, for instance, cyber systems, languages and cultural knowledge to be able to operate in an era of new threats and to collaborate with international partners and others.
Hmm, where have I heard that before….oh, yes, the Progs used the same argument regarding the lack of quality teachers, therefore let‘s raise everyone’s salaries and then the unions got involved and we are now reaping the “rewards” of their efforts. God help us if they do the same thing to our military.
Report Post »beebacksoon
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:26pmsilentwatcher
Report Post »Regardless of skin color, or gender, choose the best for the job, period!!!!
nptden
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:58pmYep, your right…just another tactic, calling for ‘diversity’.. It’s bunk…It is the same old ‘affirmative action’ based on color and no merit…This whole ‘diversity’ gig is why we have so many unqualified people in teaching and govt jobs….They don‘t want to ’earn’ anything like Colin Powell, or Allen West. They just want empowerment, based on a ‘communist/socialist system….I like to know who authorized, ‘Diversity Officers in our govt and armed forces. Same with the ‘Sensitivity Training’ being required… These are programs that cause more divisiveness by intimidating supervisors and managers in employee evaluation because it will always wind up as an EEOC case or sent to the Diversity Officer….It‘s the ’bottom-up’ strategy of Van Jones..
Report Post »Ruler4You
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 8:58pmYou can’t completely disable a nation if they have a competent military. “Affirmative Action” has been disclosed as a reparations stepping stone by this administration. It was designed as a “whitey” pay back for the sins of our fore fathers. Competence or ability are not even remote considerations. The policy itself is punitive by context to ‘white’ Americans. That “IS” reverse discrimination. Now, you don’t have to be an intellectual to understand this. Ability and individual drive should be the minimum requisites for ANY advancement in ANY occupation, but especially in our military.
Report Post »Mil Mom
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:07pmI thought the purpose of the military was for National Defense, and to defend our allies, since when does the gender or ethnecity of the brass make a bit of difference to their ablility to do that.
Report Post »I spoke with a Military family member today; This person pointed to this study and said that to be a General you have to be in the service for at least 30 yrs. Since it’s not been 30 yrs, since the military opened up many opportunities to women, it would be impossible for the number of Generals, (The part of the study sited in our conversation.) to reflect an {appropriate} number of women, and most hispanic and asian servicemen had not been enlisted long enough for this to kick in. ((ARE WE GOING TO LESSEN THE AMT. OF TIME NEEDED TO MAKE GENERAL IN ORDER TO BETTER REFLECT THE POPULATION? WHAT WILL THIS DO TO OUR COMBAT READINESS, IF THEY DON’T HAVE ENOUGH COMBAT EXPERIENCE? My serviceperson said that orders came from the White House that this was going to change, He/She was speaking in regards to Generals.)) I wonder did this report look into whether a large number of women/blacks/hispanics/asians are actually staying in the service for the long amount of time it takes to make this rank?
Mil Mom
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 10:20pm@grilledcheez
Posted on March 8, 2011 at 2:55pm
According to the 2010 Census,
65% of the population are non-hispanic whites.
16% are hispanic/latino
13% are black
5% are asian.
So the currently military leadership in this country does not accurately reflect the nation’s demographics.
*******************
Report Post »So what is your solution? Maybe we should program everyone’s enthnicity into the pentagon computer when they enlist, (OR THROWING AWAY OUR CURRENT SYSTEM, ALL MILITARY) then put in your census figures and let it assign rank according to the proportion of the population, maybe use the normal Basic Training / Boot Camp period to teach them what perks and responsibilities go with their new rank (they‘ll know the pay I’m sure!) and introduce our ((( New Improved Military)) to the world using either a Madison Avenue Press Agency, OR the Harvard Faculty Group who represented Moammar Gadafi !!! ((( NOW WOULDN’T WE ALL FEEL SAFER IN THIS INSANE WORLD WHICH SEEMS TO BE FALLING TO PIECES AROUND US??????? )))
Wayner
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 1:22amThis really makes good sense….. I mean just look at all the black generals and colonels in the african armies and how well they run their militaries.
Report Post »ComeAndTakeThis
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 8:06amDemmographics from Wikipedia
White alone
(of which 30.4 million are White Hispanic and Latino Americans.
Excluding these, this category comprises 65.0% or 199.3 million) 74.8% 229.8 million
Black or African American alone
12.4% 38.1 million
Asian alone
4.5% 13.8 million
American Indian or Alaska Native alone
0.8% 2.5 million
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander alone
0.15% 0.454 million
Some other race alone
4.9% 14.9 million
Two or more races
2.4% 7.5 million
The population make up of the US by race is very close to to the demographics that make up the leadership of the military. The argument that the military is not meeting the mark of diversity is false. The efforts of the individual is what gets a promotion in the military and if females want combat assignment then the must be able to meet the physical requirements that these assignments demand. The equipment is heavy and is still moved on the battlefield by people carrying the weapons, munitions and other items on the backs and in the arms of the people using the equipment.and weapons.
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 9:09amToo many greedy/Ignorant/ Statists run Congress.Too many mere politicians worry more about growing government and more about their POWER over a people kept ignorant than they care about defending our Constitution and way of life. We need to remove-by whatever means necessary these jacka__ politicians that wish to make us all as Sodom.And the vinyards of Gomorrah.
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on March 9, 2011 at 10:00pmThe women, blacks and hispanics in the military are probably too smart to want to be micro-managed by a leftist commander-in-chief with no military experience.
Report Post »Secret Squirrel
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 7:44pm…
Report Post »Haven’t you heard?
The military is now a social experiment.
Let’s see if we can make everyone happy!
Secret Squirrel
Posted on March 10, 2011 at 7:45pm…..
Report Post »I’m confused.
If they’re white but gay is that a good thing or not?
warrior21
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 4:47amFor those of you who wonder my women are not assigned to combat units please go to this link:http://www.mindef.gov.sg/safti/pointer/back/journals/2001/Vol27_4/4.htm it will explain it completely.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 11, 2011 at 4:27pmI guess they let the white men lead because at least they know whose side they are on, unlike the blacks who are always taking up for the muslims.
Report Post »