Another WTF moment

[tombogan03884]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110308/ap_on_re_us/us_military_diversity

By PAULINE JELINEK, Associated Press Pauline Jelinek, Associated Press – Mon Mar 7, 7:50 pm ET

WASHINGTON – 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.

This is in the "All Volunteer military".
Maybe it's just because minorities do not have such a sense of duty to the land of welfare, affirmative action and amnesty for illegals ?

[JC5123]

This is the only reason that the left feels the need for a military. For them it's a place to force people to participate in their little social experiments.

I have no problem with full integration inside the military. Women, gays, minorities, I don't care. If they can do the job, and I feel that I can trust them to have my back, you're in. What I will have a problem with is if they lower the standards. That is when in ceases to be equal opportunity, and becomes a political agenda. 

[TAB]

ok lets see there are 2 paths to becoming a commissioned officer in the milltary.

Get a degree or battle field promotions.  of the 2 getting a degree far out numbers the BFPs.( I'd guess 1000 to 1)


Frankly I think we have too many officers now.  It didn't use to be like that.


Becoming a NCO, its a matter of job, preforance and/or time in.

[JC5123]

ok lets see there are 2 paths to becoming a commissioned officer in the milltary.

Get a degree or battle field promotions.  of the 2 getting a degree far out numbers the BFPs.( I'd guess 1000 to 1)


Frankly I think we have too many officers now.  It didn't use to be like that.


Becoming a NCO, its a matter of job, preforance and/or time in.

Also don't forget that many battlefield promotions are rescinded once you leave the theater of operations. 

[Solus]

I assume that OCS (Officer Candidates School), if it is still around, is considered getting a degree?

[Sponsor]

[Solus]

I remember hearing some time ago, that there was a push to allow women to be assigned to combat units if they wanted to go.

Well, I don't count that as equal.  Men don't have that choice.  While they can volunteer for combat duty, they can't avoid it just by not raising their hand.

This would also mean that EVERY person entering the military should be capable of fulfilling a combat role.  This then would mean no reduced training requirements or any reduced requirements in any areas.  All entrants would have to meat the exact same standards that men do.

It is my understanding, and it maybe faulty, that women do have reduced requirements for graduation from what ever Basic Training is required for men.

I'd guess that if they made the standards truly equal, that would reduce the number of women who could serve?

 

[tombogan03884]

OCS is generally for College grads. There are programs for select enlisted personnel to apply, but they generally involve getting advanced education.

Also don't forget that many battlefield promotions are rescinded once you leave the theater of operations.  

You may be thinking of "Brevet commissions" which before the advent of bravery awards for officers were given to deserving individuals, but were only in effect during the course of that war. That was why Gen. G.A.Custer was reduced to his actual rank of Lt. Col. at the end of the Civil War, his wartime career consisted of both actual, and Brevet promotions.
Commissions granted for combat performance are generally permanent, though the recipient has the option of returning to his previous rank to avoid being discharged in a post war "Reduction of Force".

[TAB]

I remember hearing some time ago, that there was a push to allow women to be assigned to combat units if they wanted to go.

Well, I don't count that as equal.  Men don't have that choice.  While they can volunteer for combat duty, they can't avoid it just by not raising their hand.

This would also mean that EVERY person entering the military should be capable of fulfilling a combat role.  This then would mean no reduced training requirements or any reduced requirements in any areas.  All entrants would have to meat the exact same standards that men do.

It is my understanding, and it maybe faulty, that women do have reduced requirements for graduation from what ever Basic Training is required for men.

I'd guess that if they made the standards truly equal, that would reduce the number of women who could serve?

 

yes they do have diffrent standards.  Which IMO is fine for some jobs, but not for others.  IE paper pushing its fine, combat, no way in hell.

lets not forget that for just about all female troups that have been captured, repeated rape is very common.

[Timothy]

OCS is generally for College grads. There are programs for select enlisted personnel to apply, but they generally involve getting advanced education.

True enough..my brother went from E5 to Midshipman to Ensign by entering into one of those programs.  He eventually became an unrestricted line officer in the Navy.

Others who I worked with, once they made E7 (Chief Petty Officer), which at the time required some college level work, went on to become LDO's or Limited Duty Officers.  They were generally restricted to lead within the confines of their enlisted training.  Whether that's the case today is anyone's guess.

[TAB]

True enough..my brother went from E5 to Midshipman to Ensign by entering into one of those programs.  He eventually became an unrestricted line officer in the Navy.

Others who I worked with, once they made E7 (Chief Petty Officer), which at the time required some college level work, went on to become LDO's or Limited Duty Officers.  They were generally restricted to lead within the confines of their enlisted training.  Whether that's the case today is anyone's guess.

it is.