Racial Diversity, Integration and Equal Opportunity in Us Army;

Running head: RACIAL DIVERSITY, INTEGRATION

Racial Diversity, Integration and Equal Opportunity in US Army;

A Proud History of Progress

Table of Contents

Certificate of Authorship 1

Title Page 2

Table of Contents 3

Abstract 4

Introduction 5

Minority Service to the US Army - A Proud History 5

The Revolutionary War 5

The Civil War 6

Buffalo Soldiers 6

World War I and World War II 6

The Korean Conflict 7

Vietnam and the Mandatory Draft 7

The All-Volunteer Army 8

Army Demographics 8

Equal Opportunity and Sexual Harassment Complaints 10

Conclusion 10

References 12

Abstract

The Army has a long-standing tradition providing opportunities for service to our country without regard to national origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Minority soldiers have served proudly in every conflict that America has fought. This paper discusses a brief history of the racial integration in the United States Army and examines the demographics of the Army in fiscal year 2004. The Army has been overall very successful in its racial diversity, equal opportunity, and sexual harassment programs.

Racial Diversity, Integration and Equal Opportunity in the US Army

On 26 July 1948 President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981, calling on the armed forces to provide equal treatment and opportunity for black servicemen. (MacGregor, 1985, chap. 12) This was truly a historic event in American history and promised a future of equality not just for black servicemen in the military, but paved the way for further progress in the Civil Rights movement and more equal treatment for all minorities.

Has our military met the challenge to provide equal treatment and opportunity for all? The path has been rough and slow going at times; and clearly a distance is left on our journey, but the overwhelming body of evidence plainly shows that today’s Army is an excellent example of a successful racially diverse workforce that provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country regardless of national origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, or religion. Although there were many examples of heroic service by other minority groups, this paper concentrates mainly on the integration of black soldiers in the military.

Minority Service to the US Army - A Proud History

Minority soldiers in general and black soldiers in particular have fought and contributed in every war and conflict that has called on the sacrifice of our American fighting men and women. Black soldiers fought side by side with white soldiers in the Revolutionary War. In subsequent wars through World War II, blacks would serve in segregated combat units. It would not be until the Korean Conflict that America would once again see an integrated Army.

The Revolutionary War

During the Revolutionary