ABSTRACT

During the last three decades, the U.S. military services in general, and the Army in particular, have substantially outpaced the private sector in providing opportunities for American minorities. The participation of African Americans in the Army has been at rates higher than their percentage of the general population throughout the enlisted ranks during the past 20 years. In 1986, for example, 29.6% of the Army enlisted personnel were African American. The percentages by rank went from a low of 22.2% for privates to a high of 36% for sergeants. Percentages for officers were lower than for enlisted personnel, but the percentages increased substantially during the 1970s and 1980s. In 1986, 10.4% of Army officers were African American, compared to 3.9% in 1972. The percentage of generals who were African American increased from 0.7% to 7.0% during that same period (Wigdor & Green, 1991, p. 39).