4/30/2023 0 Comments Combat arms supplyIf the Army and the black community remain unconcerned about convincing young black cadets to branch combat arms, the status quo will remain. Xavier Garrett briefly discussed the phenomenon of African American cadets choosing non–combat arms career paths in a recent New York Times article covering the lack of black senior officers across the services. The Army will have a role in doing so, but so will African American stakeholders at all levels, from cadets to mid-career officers. First, more should be done to encourage African American cadets to pursue careers as combat arms officers-and to continue in those branches throughout their careers. But addressing two issues in particular would be especially impactful. Solving this problem will require deliberate and comprehensive effort. The lack of diversity among combat arms officers is a strategic problem, however, because under the current Army construct, only combat arms officers become senior strategic leaders-senior, three- and four-star generals that serve as the chief of staff of the Army, corps commanders, or component combatant commanders. Yet, the lack of appropriate funds directed toward implementing a program aimed at change and of any fundamental policy changes makes these efforts appear to be for naught. The National Defense Authorization Acts of 20 prescribed task forces, commissions, and strategic plans. The hard truth is that combat arms demographics are little more than a talking point that is brought up every few years, typically by black stakeholders. And based on its institutional inaction, the service seems to collectively believe that this is not a problem. The Army has a disproportionate lack of African American officers in combat arms branches-infantry, armor, aviation, and field artillery.
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