Report says too many whites, men lead US militaryMarch 07, 2011 8:28 PM ESTWASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military is too white and too male at the top and needs to change recruiting and promotion policies and lift its ban on women in combat, an independent report for Congress said Monday.Seventy-seven percent of senior officers in the active-duty military are white, while only 8 percent are black, 5 percent are Hispanic and 16 percent are women, the report by an independent panel said, quoting data from September 2008.One barrier that keeps women from the highest ranks is their inability to serve in combat units. Promotion and job opportunities have favored those with battlefield leadership credentials.The report ordered by Congress in 2009 demands greater diversity among the military's leaders so it the service will reflect better the racial, ethnic and gender mix in the armed forces and in American society....Having military brass that better mirrors the nation can inspire future recruits and help create trust among the general population, the commission said.Among recommendations is that the military eliminate policies that exclude women from combat units, phasing in additional career fields and units that they can be assigned to as long as they are qualified. A 1994 combat exclusion policy bans women from being assigned to ground combat units below the brigade level even though women have for years served in combat situations....Lyles said the commission consulted a panel of enlisted women on the issue. "I didn't hear, 'Rah, rah, we want to be in combat,'" Lyles said. "But I also didn't hear, 'We don't want to be in combat.' What they want is an equal opportunity to serve where their skills allow them to serve."...
Lyles said the commission consulted a panel of enlisted women on the issue. "I didn't hear, 'Rah, rah, we want to be in combat,'" Lyles said. "But I also didn't hear, 'We don't want to be in combat.' What they want is an equal opportunity to serve where their skills allow them to serve."...
Bullspit. If they can help defeat the bugs, then they can help whip some muslim ass.Only problem is, very few of them look like Diz.
Question. Is the goal of the military to "create trust among the general population" or is the mission to kick some ass?
I'm not really sure anymore.