Accession Number:

AD1085001

Title:

An Ideological Gulf: Barriers That Hinder Black Officer Participation in Combat Arms Branches of the United States Army

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report,01 Aug 2018,01 Jun 2019

Corporate Author:

ARMY COMMAND AND GENERAL STAFF COLLEGE FORT LEAVENWORTH KS FORT LEAVENWORTH United States

Personal Author(s):

• Caldwell, Trivius G.

Report Date:

2019-06-14

Pagination or Media Count:

113.0

Abstract:

The United States Army is arguably just as socialistic as it is a meritocracy. Social and cultural factors such race, gender, and ethnicities are largely irrelevant and, at times, replaced by artifacts that contribute to the sustainment of the meritocracy as an ideology. Although the Army functions as a progressive and hierarchical system of merit, the aforementioned sociocultural variables are cloaked beneath a common uniform and insignia. The problem writ large is twofold one, there are social implications that correspond with the wearing of a military uniform and its insignia and two, the history of black people in America, with respect to race relations, is instrumental in the racial disparity of black officers in the combat arms branches of the Army. The researchers goal is to answer the question do ideological barriers prevent black officers from volunteering to serve in the combat arms branches of the Army If so, what are they and what should senior Army leaders do to address this issue

Descriptors:

• demography
• army
• military education
• active duty
• education
• human resources
• curriculum
• delphi method
• logistics
• recognition
• statistics
• identities
• infantry
• military tactics

Subject Categories:

• Sociology and Law
• Military Forces and Organizations
• Personnel Management and Labor Relations

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE