A Study of the Spanish-Ethnic Soldier: Attitudes, Problems, Needs

Although there are approximately 47,000 Spanish-speaking soldiers in the U.S. Army, there is little information on how they experience Army life. The present study was designed to obtain data on the Spanish ethnic soldiers self concept, his attitudes toward Army personnel, and his problems and needs. LJA constructed the Army Experience Survey, an instrument composed of an adapted Berger Self-Acceptance Scale, Problem and Needs Scale, Attitudes toward Army Personnel Scale, and an Enlisted Personnel Questionnaire, to obtain the relevant research data. The survey was given to approximately 1,000 Spanish ethnic soldiers and 600 Black and White soldiers at four stateside posts and five communities in Germany. Instructions for taking the survey and all survey items were in both English and Spanish. Chicano and Puerto Rican enlisted men were lower in self-concept than Black and White enlisted men, but the two Spanish groups did not differ from each other. Puerto Ricans expressed more problems and needs than any group. Chicanos and Puerto Ricans expressed more negative attitudes toward Army personnel than Whites but more positive attitudes than Blacks. A large percentage of each ethnic group reported that they did not know the Equal Opportunity Regulations nor the Equal Opportunity Officer. Puerto Ricans and Chicanos of both ranks enlisted men and NCOs felt that educational opportunities were too limited for them.