By John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service
July 22, 2008
The U.S. armed forces have exemplified racial diversity since integrating 60 years ago, but further efforts are necessary to diversify military leadership, a Pentagon official said today.
On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order that led to racial equality among servicemembers. Six decades later, the Defense Department now boasts a diverse work force of roughly 3 million employees.
“The military has been a model for the nation,” Clarence Johnson, DoD’s principal director and director of civilian equal employment opportunity, said in an interview. “Other institutions look at us and see what programs that we’re putting in place.”
Johnson, a former Air Force colonel, said diversity of the services creates a wider talent pool to recruit from, and allows for a more productive and prepared force.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=50571
