Have you ever experienced or observed discrimination in the military?

As a man of color, I am sorry to say that early in my career I did experience discrimination. It seemed to get better throughout my career. Is it better these days?

I was in sub school and we had a gentleman from Harlem. Another one was from the backest woods of Georgia. Had a confed. flag tatoo on his chest and some other weird symbol that we were told was part of the KKK order. Both of these gentlemen were incredibly well schooled but both were also incredibly racist. If the black sailor dropped a pipe, the white sailor would comment "that's what happens when you let _____ near machinery." All would shout him down, but to no avail. If the white sailor dropped the rope, the black sailor would correspond in like. All would shout him down as well but no avail either. Command was notified and scheduled to meet with the two of them. Flooding Team Trainer. Two teams enter and "get flooded." You then have to "fix the flood." You're taught how to fix the flood. To make sure you were listening, multiple "leaks." When all done, the lights come on and the speaker announces for the current team to leave and next team to go in. There's still residual flooding while they drain everything.

Crusty Master Chief sends Yankee and Reb in first and closes the door. Makes announcement that "flooding trainer is secured for the day, all hands lay to (go home)." Then starts the flooding as we're walking out. Reb and Yankee understand that there's been a mistake and that flooding is going on WITH THEM INSIDE!!!!! They realize they're too far in the trainer to hit the chicken switch to shut it off; they have to stop the flooding. Both work together - swearing at first - then collectively put the necessary clamps on the pipes. While swinging the necessary gear into place, Reb hits his cheek and is bleeding. Yankee holds a rag over it while he helps Reb put the necessary pressure on. Master Chief knocks off two additional main seawater valves. These start filling the room and Reb grabs Yankee by the collar to move him out of the way of floating/flying debris. At that point the Chief shuts off everything and drains the room.

Door opens and there stands two soaking wet sailors holding each other like school kids that missed their bus. They help each other out and then in an instant catch what each other has done. Master Chief smacks both of them on the backs of the heads. "Now get the f**k back to barracks and muster for chow." They look at us as if to ask "what happened" and we give that "we-know-as-much-as-you" look. We all head back to the barracks together. No one says a word. Sub school's over. Time to go to the first boat. Leave first. Its close to Thanksgiving. People are heading home. Guess who's taking a trip to New York to see the Big Apple? Guess who's his guide? You couldn't make this stuff up. I hooked up with "Georgia" later in Navy life. Him and "York" were going hunting in the back woods for R&R and "would I like to come?" Hell yeah - always down for some hunting. It was like watching two twin brothers. Both had gone on to different boats but both remembered that theres only one color in the Navy...Haze Grey.