What's The Racial Makeup of the Military?

[ThomWV]

I wonder if anyone might happen to know the racial makup of our military forces? I only ask because it seems to me that I've heard that its predominantly minority staffed. It also occurs to me that its generally presumed that minority americans generally vote Democratic, no matter which group they might be stuffed into. So it seems to me that if there's a reason to think that a person's likely party affiliation would change from Democratic to Republican the day they swore the oath I havn't heard it.

Actually I don't personally think the enlisted men and women of our services are in fact mostly Republican. I do know this though, if you take a young fellow and toss him into a totally regimented life and you tell him that everyone he is around is a Republican, pretty soon he starts to think of himself as a Republican too. It is to the advantage of Republicans to continue the myth that there are more of them than there are.

Thom

God Bless Robert Byrd

[plm135]

1. well

The enlisted corps is roughly 60-40 republican/democrat. Minorities still dont make half of the enlisted corps IIRC but they come close thus explaining the breakdown that also comes close to 50-50.

The officer corps is a whole different story. The number of Democratic Officers in the military is akin to the number of times Brittney Spears has said something intelligent. Both pop up on occasion, but not really very often do you see it.

Speaking as an officer, gentleman, and democrat. :)

Also, the officer corps is still mostly caucasian.

[newyawker99]

4. Hi plm135!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[GOPFighter]

2. Funny you should ask...

Last night I came across a page in our local newspaper devoted to news of local residents in the military. They had pictures of 18 residents in uniform. All were Black! It really hit home just how screwed up this war is. The wealthy (mostly white) sit back and reap the benefits of the war being fought mainly by minorities and others in the lower income brackets.

Insane!

[James T. Kirk]

3. Link to statistics

http://www.defenselink.mil/prhome/poprep2001/chapter2/c2_raceth.htm