Should the military evolve its current race classification system?

2015-06-03T07:38:05-04:00

As a country we continue to become a large melting pot. Exposure to different cultures develops more well rounded perspectives of who people are in their entirety. In many situations troops with Latin backgrounds are simply classified as "caucasian", Soldiers with darker complexions are "black", and recently many asians/pacific islanders were "yellow" on their ERBs. So not only is it a bit dated, but can be quite inaccurate.

Furthermore, what is the significance of identifying individuals using this segregated system of I.D.? For instance my name is SFC Joe Snuffy, blood type O+, 70" tall with brown eyes and I weigh 180lbs. At this point the category of race is moot. Or is it?

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 3 at 2015 8:03 AM

2015-06-03T08:03:48-04:00

Evolve into what, SFC Private RallyPoint Member? Are you suggesting the military use either no or one race (human race)?

I'd need to look into the reasons we identify each race to provide a quality response.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 8:07 AM

2015-06-03T08:07:28-04:00

The term "african american" has always killed me considering many black people are not from Africa, and many people from Africa are not black. I had a white friend who was born/grew up in Africa and wanted to put "African American" on his medical school application. I had to explain to him why that was probably a bad idea, even though he is officially an African American.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 3 at 2015 8:19 AM

2015-06-03T08:19:24-04:00

I believe that we no longer need to differentiate. What does it solve?

We can let the EO training and surveys collect that data but as part of a personnel file, what purpose does it serve other than for statistics and 'goal' setting.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 3 at 2015 8:52 AM

2015-06-03T08:52:26-04:00

I am not all "white" or Asian. I am a little of both so we need a choice for that. I can't ever find the American block.

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jun 3 at 2015 8:55 AM

2015-06-03T08:55:11-04:00

It most certainly should be a moot point. The demographic classification is so that politicians can stand and beat on their chests and say that the Military leads the way in race Relations.

Can people not see that if we are truly to have a color blind society, that the US Military should be the leaders in that as well? Dr King said he wanted men to be judged by the content of their character, let the US Military be the trailblazer in this.

ELIMINATE all reference to race and gender in all official documents and promotion files. In the military we should all be green....and NOTHING ELSE.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Jun 3 at 2015 6:30 PM

2015-06-03T18:30:16-04:00

How about we just list everyone as "Soldier", "Sailor", "Airman", or "Marine" and leave it at that?

I don't care if you are Red, Black, Orange, Purple, or Yellow with blue poka-dots. As long as you do the job effectively, that's all I need to know.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 3 at 2015 8:47 PM

2015-06-03T20:47:07-04:00

The military's use of race statistics is based on the current federal definitions. I'm sure when it changes, the military will change soon after.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 3 at 2015 8:50 PM

2015-06-03T20:50:02-04:00

If that is the case SFC Private RallyPoint Member, that we should eliminate the use of race statistics in the military, should that hold true for civilian life? No more this race suspect was shot by this race police officer?

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 3 at 2015 9:56 PM

2015-06-03T21:56:01-04:00

Yes. We need to eliminate any and all references to any race other than "human".

Response by SGT Lawrence Corser made Jun 3 at 2015 11:33 PM

2015-06-03T23:33:45-04:00

how about just drop it, I am not sure it even matters.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 2:27 AM

2015-06-05T02:27:12-04:00

First of all, you have to understand the difference between race and ethnicity. Negroid, Caucasoid, Mongoloid and Aborigine (sometimes labeled as Uncertain or Other as they don't quite fit in any of the other groups or are not unique enough to be their own group) are the actual racial groups as classified by anthropologist (black, white, yellow, other). Within the major racial groups, there are numerous sub-races.

Take Hispanics for example. Being Hispanic is a not race classification. It is an ethnic one. In reality, Hispanics are generally (scientifically) labeled as Caucasoid and belonging to the Aryan sub-racial group if the have a strong Spanish ancestry or as Americans in the Mongoloid racial group if they have roots closer to their native American roots (Maya, Aztec etc).

Now as for why the military tracks people by race and by ethnicity, there are actually several reasons. In some rare cases, duty assignments are given or withheld as a direct result of race or ethnicity. For instance, a male of Turkish descent who has not done his mandatory time as a conscript in the Turkish military could be subject to arrest, even if he is a US citizen and serving in the US military. Obviously, this service member used in this example should not be posted to a duty assignment in Turkey.

Other times the military seeks a person of a specific ethnic or racial background to serve in a liaison position in an attempt to build rapport easier. A historic example of this was the first US mil to mil partnership to an African nation after WWII. The element consisted of 11 African American NCOs and a white officer. It actually ended up being a disaster because the country was a West African nation that supplied a large numbers of slaves to European and American slave traders in the 1700's and 1800's and they looked down an African Americans as former slaves (we're talking West Africa circa 1950s).

Response by SSG Sean Thoman made Jun 5 at 2015 4:38 AM

2015-06-05T04:38:07-04:00

Race should be mute, because there is only one race; The Human Race.