Study on Reducing Barriers to Minority Participation in Elite Units in the Armed Services

Abstract

Section 557 of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to sponsor an independent study to assess barriers to racial/ethnic minority and women's participation in Special Operation Forces (SOF) and other specialties (i.e., pilot and combat systems officer specialties, Marine Corps Force Reconnaissance, and Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team). DOD asked the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) to conduct this research. This IDA paper examines racial/ethnic and gender composition of SOF and other specialties, assesses progress on past recommendations, and examines the results of focus groups to understand barriers and facilitators to participation throughout the career cycle.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2024
Accession Number
AD1226773

Entities

People

  • Anthony L. Johnson
  • Ashkay Jain
  • Ashlie M. Williams
  • Caroline R. Earle
  • Carrington A. Metts
  • Dave I. Cotting
  • Dina Eliezer
  • Heidi C. Reutter
  • Jordan R. Marcusse
  • Joseph F. Adams
  • Juliana Esposito
  • Nigel J. Mease

Organizations

  • Institute for Defense Analyses

Tags

Readers

  • Defense Acquisition Program Management
  • Gender and Food Studies
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.