Diversity Versus Affirmative Action for the United States Navy
Abstract
A cancellation of the Navy's Affirmative Action instruction combined with a trend toward the all-encompassing diversity term may lead to a watering down of efforts to recruit and retain minorities, particularly in the Navy's officer corps. This paper reviews the relevant history legislation and diversity and affirmative action policies from an "ends ways and means" perspective. The author uses the 2003 Supreme Court decision on the affirmative action practices of the University of Michigan as a green light to continue military affirmative action programs. The author challenges the Navy's new broadened definition of diversity suggesting it confuses those reading published instructions and guidance while sidestepping the clear need to aggressively recruit minorities. The author recommends immediate changes in the Navy's diversity and affirmative action policies in order to prevent a possible downturn in recruitment of women and minorities. Some experts believe this is because a military that does not reflect the population that it serves is a military that faces problems in recruitment retention and legitimacy- and ultimately impacts negatively on mission readiness.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 03, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA449223
Entities
People
- Catherine Masar
Organizations
- United States Army War College