Survey Shows Racial Divides in Military

A high percentage of blacks, Hispanics and other minorities in the U.S. military complained that they have experienced racially offensive behavior while in the armed services, according to a comprehensive study of race and equality released today by the Pentagon.

According to the survey of more than 40,000 members of the military, 76 percent of blacks and 79 percent of Hispanics had experienced racially offensive encounters, while 63 percent of whites had.

Three defeats in three years

In another key finding 47 – 57 percent of minority group members said the offender was of a higher rank compared to only 37 percent of whites. The study also found that as the respondents’ rank increased the number of offenses decreased.

The survey also found that minorities and women are “clustered in administrative and support areas,” according to William Leftwich, deputy undersecretary for equal opportunity.

But Pentagon officials also pointed to positive trends in the military. For instance, the percentage of active duty commissioned officers have doubled over the last two decades for both minority officers (7 percent to 15.3 percent) and women officers (5.9 percent to 14.1 percent).

Most respondents reported a high level of comfort working with people of a different race or ethnicity and 85 percent said they had friends of a different race/ethnicity with whom they socialize.

According to the Pentagon, there has never been a survey of this magnitude done in the military or elsewhere that can be used to compare the results.

“No other major institution has ever done this,” Anita Lancaster of the Defense Manpower Data Center said in a Pentagon briefing. “We have nothing to benchmark this with.”

The military has often been displayed as a model for race relations, and most respondents did say that they thought that race relations were no different or better in the military than as a civilian, but that they were improving.

“We take great pride in the high standards that we have set,” Secretary of Defense William Cohen said. “But we must also be vigilant and remain responsive if we hope to sustain and improve the environment in which our military members live and work.”

The Equal Opportunity Survey was conducted from September of ’96 through February ’97.