Black military enlistment down 58%
Between 2000 and 2005, the last year these statistics were available, the number of black military enlistees dropped sharply by 58%. Among whites, they declined 10%. Among Hispanics, it was 7% over that same period. The reports:
Defense Department statistics show the number of young black enlisteeshas fallen by more than 58 percent since fiscal year 2000. The Army inparticular has been hit hard: In fiscal year 2000, according to thePentagon statistics, more than 42,000 black men and women applied toenlist; in fiscal year 2005, the most recent for which a racialbreakdown is available, just over 17,000 signed up.
The decline in enlistment applications among blacks is by far thefastest of any demographic group. Between fiscal 2000 and 2005, whiteapplicants declined by more than 10 percent. Hispanic applicantsdropped by almost 7 percent.
"African-Americans have been such a key part of the modern military,"said Michael O'Hanlon, military analyst for the liberal-leaningBrookings Institution. "There's obviously been a degree where the blackcommunity in the United States has seen [military service] asculturally valuable and promoted it. That whole culture and valuesystem is at risk in the black community. That is a big, big change. Tome, it portends the possibility of a longer-term loss of interest. Itcan be tough to get it back."
Yes, the system certainly is at risk, that is for sure. Also, being that we have an all-volunteer army, what health incentive do young volunteers have to put their bodies on the line with a right-wing reactionary in the Oval Office?
Comments