Minority Representation in the Enlisted Special Forces

摘要

This research is in response to a request by the Office of the Deputy Chief ofStaff for Personnel to examine reasons for the low proportion of minorities in Special Forces (SF). The U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) identified critical stages in the application/qualification process and examined factors that might restrict the flow of minorities into SF. Analyses of the market impact of SF eligibility criteria indicated that the minimum General Technical (GT) score required in SF markedly reduces the proportion of eligible minorities. Recruiter observations and minority prerequisite failure rates indicate that the required swim test also eliminates a disproportionate number of minorities (blacks, in particular) from Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS). Black soldiers who pass the swim test do very well in SFAS. However, on the whole, minority SFAS graduates are less likely to complete the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) than nonminority soldiers. This difference seems to arise from differences in military background characteristics (e.g., Combat Arms military occupational specialty (MOS), specialized training) across racial and ethnic groups. The report concludes with several suggestions for addressing these issues. SF assessment, SF training, Minority representation, SF prerequisites.