Awards based on race?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:56:06 -0500

<p>Everyone that knows me knows that I am not racist and despise racism but the Army has kicked a hornets nest with the recent publicity on the Black Engineer of the Year Award, or BEYA, conference, held in Washington D.C., Feb. 7-8.
</p><p>We as a profession of arms should not be supporting segregating awards based on race. </p><p>I am aware that this is not an Army award but a civilian award to civilian engineers, but the Army should not be promoting or supporting programs such as these merely because of the image they portray.</p>

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 1:12 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:12:23 -0500

Well first off congratulations to the SM who won the BEYA I'm sure they earned it and it's a great accomplishment. But this seems kind of a backward step the Army is taking bordering on the old format of segregation in the Armed Forces of old. Now if I'm mistaken please set me straight on the subject I would appreciate the knowledge.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 24 at 2014 1:20 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:20:03 -0500

Agreed completely. It's hypocritical to proclaim "equality! equality!" and then turn around and make race a prerequisite to an award. The only way to get rid of racism is to stop acknowledging race, period. No more white, black, brown ,red, or whatever color you'd like. Just HUMAN. Once we stop categorizing ourselves, the battle is half won.

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 1:39 PM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:39:00 -0500

Here's my thing....  If this were to be a WEYA (White Engineer of the Year Award), what would be the response??  I'm sure that the winners are deserving, but that is not the point at hand, is it? But, if this were WEYA instead of BEYA I'm sure the NAACP, ACLU, NNC, NUL, Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, and any other black rights organizations would be having a heyday... not to mention the media.  Equality should be equal... on all fronts, regardless of race, creed, beliefs, etc.  Racism will continue until we stop highlighting race in acheivements.

Response by SSG Carl Sensabaugh II made Feb 24 at 2014 1:39 PM

SSG Carl Sensabaugh II — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 13:39:20 -0500

This is a step backwards and they wonder why there is still racism.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 8:57 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 20:57:54 -0500

Didnt congress just upgrade some awards to medal of honors because of race?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 9:17 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 21:17:47 -0500

Here's another perspective: it's demeaning.  <div><br></div><div>Saying I'm the Best Minority Officer implies that I wouldn't stack up against the whole field if compared to everyone.  I don't want that award. </div>

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2014 9:18 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2014 21:18:53 -0500

While I am proud of whoever won, I'm in the same boat. I hate to admit that there is still so much division. Almost every unit I've been in was divided by cliques, based on origin. There may be that one token SM that would hang out with a group of others, but that was usually about it. Granted, they often seemed to work well together. It was always evident which group was in charge, which was usually based off of the color of the 1SG (that I've seen, I'm sure its not always the case). There are also the gender divides as well. I am happy to say I haven't seen THAT MUCH racism, but it still exists. I would almost venture to say that it is often the minorities I see doing the discriminating. It could very well just be my field, as I've noticed various differences amongst them.

However, I feel that any group that feels the need to distinguish themselves from the others, based on race, is wrong. As long as this is allowed to happen, there will always be separation, whether intended or not.

caveat: My statements are based on what I've seen and experienced. I realize each of our experiences are different. I do not mean to disrespect anyone. This is purely my observations. Each place will have its own vibes and chemistry. I also realize, being combat support, that combat units may have more cohesion, and thus less of a divide.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2014 12:17 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 00:17:03 -0500

Just more proof that there will never truly be "equal rights". As long as one uses their race as an advantage, the others will always try to achieve that same advantage to become equal again. Once both are equal another advantage will be sought to make the first stand out again. It is a repeating cycle, and it is annoying and I am tired of hearing it, seeing it, watching it... smh if only everyone would just work for what they wanted instead of trying to get it handed to them for free.<br>

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2014 11:58 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 11:58:43 -0500

Where is the Latino Something of the Year Award? or the Asian Whatever of the Year? what a stupid idea, to put a race in front of the award, instead of saying in big letters the Engineer of the Year is so and so

Response by CMC Robert Young made Feb 25 at 2014 12:01 PM

CMC Robert Young — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:01:30 -0500

Awards should be based on the merits of the individual and nothing else. As long as there are special "qualifiers" for awards, there will be those who use those things to "manufacture" differences between groups.

We all swore the same oath. We all incurred the same obligations. We all should be evaluated on character and performance; and nothing else.

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Feb 25 at 2014 12:06 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:06:03 -0500

And yet again the DOA takes another huge step backwards. Have an award but why break it up based on race? What is next; an award based on race and creed? Do you hear that? That's the sound of esprit de corps being ripped apart yet again.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2014 12:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 12:24:45 -0500

I could see the issue if it was a conferance that the Army held Annually or created but from what i gathered it isnt an Army award. It was an award that someone in the Army happened to get which is why there was so much support form D.C.

guess I don't see the big deal. The Army puts on EO Observances every month to honor or remember minorities. So why is it such a big deal that a Black NCO recieved an award from an outside agency during Black History Month?

I love it when a statement starts with " im not racist BUT" or something to that affect. Why do we need place emphasis on that? If it is a real issue and race has nothing to do with it than why start off by defending yourself?

Response by CWO3 Brent Kern made Feb 25 at 2014 7:59 PM

CWO3 Brent Kern — Tue, 25 Feb 2014 19:59:40 -0500

I see rank more of a bias for awards than I do race; we give awards to Officers and senior NCOs and hardly consider the troop in the mud doing the hard work day in and day out. This might just be a Marine problem, but none the less it is a problem.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 11:17 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:17:28 -0500

I have a few friends still serving that are black and their sentiment is this is an insult. We've been told since OSUT "you are not black/white/yellow/brown - you are GREEN." Ok so what you are telling me is that now, 23 years down the road we are NOT all green? Come on, give me a break. Stop the social experimentation in the Army - it's disgraceful and demeans every Soldier regardless of race. As to awards - race based? No... Rank based - you betcha....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 26 at 2014 11:30 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 11:30:17 -0500

When they come out with Best Ukrainian/Incan NCO of the year, I'll be ok with it.

Response by CPT Jason Torpy made Feb 26 at 2014 12:32 PM

CPT Jason Torpy — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 12:32:29 -0500

African Americans were pretty thoroughly discriminated against for 150 years AFTER slavery was abolished. That clock still ticks from thousand racist comments and actions all across the US every day. 1964 was a big step forward. 2008 was a big step forward. There have been other big steps forward, but let's be fair, equality is not here yet. But I'm still proud to support race-based awards as it bolsters pride for a community still seeking equality.

Response by SGT Randy Kuhlman made Feb 27 at 2014 9:53 PM

SGT Randy Kuhlman — Thu, 27 Feb 2014 21:53:20 -0500

Welcome to the new Army! After leaving service, I had many Soldiers contact me with complaints and venting their frustrations at the level of dissention and segregation growing within the ranks. The Administration has continually pushed for "diversity" at the cost of military cohesion. This is just the latest act in that trend.

Response by SGT Alfred Cox made May 28 at 2014 1:00 AM

SGT Alfred Cox — Wed, 28 May 2014 01:00:02 -0400

WTF!!!!!!!!... wow...no comment... a BEYA...

Response by SGT Charles James made May 28 at 2014 1:12 PM

SGT Charles James — Wed, 28 May 2014 13:12:51 -0400

Wow ....next will be AFPT standards. ....all in all NOTa good idea!!!

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made May 30 at 2014 10:06 PM

SSG Jeffrey Spencer — Fri, 30 May 2014 22:06:29 -0400

As my DI said, "You're not black or white or yellow. You're all green now!!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 11 at 2014 11:41 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Jun 2014 11:41:00 -0400

I am still hoping for the Best Portuguese LT of the Year award. Being Portuguese is like being Pork. We are the other white meat. With a name like Rosa everyone thinks your Mexican and Puerto Rican. When I met my wife she even thought that Portugal was in south America. But none the less I am a proud American.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 13 at 2014 7:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 13 Jul 2014 19:08:56 -0400

I want to chime in on this thread but biting my tongue.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2014 12:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 00:21:27 -0400

I try to be a common sense kind of person:
What would people think if there was a ‘white soldier of the year award, white entertainment television, white college fund’...

If there would be an issue doing this we need to rethink what message we are sending by having those programs. We need to stop thinking we can make race less of an issue by making race the central issue. No one should be punished nor rewarded based on race.
Equality for all. To do any less is to foster racism...

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 31 at 2014 1:10 AM

SGT Richard H. — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 01:10:37 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I couldn't agree more. Maybe I oversimplify it, but my opinion is that having "segregated" anything only perpetuates a divide that would be best put in everyone's past.

Response by PO1 Ted Woitazek made Jan 25 at 2020 7:44 PM

PO1 Ted Woitazek — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 19:44:07 -0500

Service members should address their reps in congress.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 28 at 2021 11:20 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:20:24 -0400

I do not see a person’s color, race, religion, sex, age, orientation, political party, national origin or fave breakfast cereal(because in a firefight NONE of that shit matters). I see Green. That is all.
ANYTHING that divides us is wrong.